Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid have developed a close bond during their time with the Timberwolves. Asked why the trio jibes so well, Edwards pointed to their personalities. Edwards is himself in any setting. McDaniels is “super quiet.”
As for Reid?
“Outgoing around the right people,” Edwards said.
And, perhaps, when the situation calls for it.
Reid’s seventh NBA season kicked off Wednesday in Portland. And while the 26-year-old contends he’s still “young,” he knows his role has shifted. The 2023-24 NBA Sixth Man of the Year is still coming off the bench for Minnesota, but his role within that unit has changed.
Gone is Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Here alongside Reid and Donte DiVincenzo now are inexperienced young teammates Terrence Shannon Jr., Rob Dillingham and Jaylen Clark.
“I’ve got to quarterback and obviously help those guys out,” Reid acknowledged. “I’ve become a vet in some of those situations, trying to get the ball moving side to side, score the ball.”
Whatever is required to help the Wolves win. Reid has spoken like a wise old veteran throughout training camp. The longest-tenured Timberwolf has preached about the importance of approach and readiness.
“It’s been great. He’s been a little more vocal. He’s been bringing it every day. His energy has been great,” Wolves center Rudy Gobert said. “It’s been good to watch him get comfortable, and you can feel that he is more and more mature every year.”
Perhaps some of that maturity comes with financial security. It felt at times last season as though the forward was forcing his own offense in the midst of a contract year. Reid signed a five-year, $125 million deal with Minnesota this offseason, which he admitted helps from a confidence standpoint.
“You get a chance to just breathe, be you — be the player you can be, bring what you can bring to the table,” Reid said. “You don’t have to worry about anything else. Just get excited for what’s to come.”
Individual on-court concerns are no longer relevant. Reid stated numerous times over the past month that a championship is the current sole focus.
Minnesota’s bench is a bit more of an unknown in that pursuit this season versus what it has been the last couple years. But Timberwolves coach Chris Finch takes solace in knowing he still has Reid and DiVincenzo, “Who are like two starter-caliber players that are in the unit.”
“They should drive winning. You put them in a lot of different combinations, and they end up being net positive,” Finch said. “So, hopefully they’ll be able to carry some of these young guys when they’re playing alongside of them, and we feel confident they will.”
Both with their play and their guidance.
Shannon said whenever he has questions, players such as Reid have answers. Recent practices proved to Reid that had to “become a vet.”
“Whatever I go through, they’re watching me do it,” Reid said. “So, I’ve got to do it at a high level.”
He doesn’t view the responsibility as a burden.
“It’s fun … becoming the teacher,” Reid said. “I once was the student.”
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