Jaden McDaniels

McDaniels is an American forward who entered the NBA as the 28th overall pick in the 2020 draft by the Los Angeles Lakers before being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves on draft night. A five-star recruit out of Federal Way High School and a one-year Washington product, he has evolved from a raw prospect into a starting-caliber two-way wing. In October 2023, he signed a five-year, $136 million extension with Minnesota.

Born on September 29, 2000, McDaniels attended Federal Way High School in Federal Way, Washington. As a freshman, he was teammates with his older brother Jalen and helped the team win its second straight Class 4A state championship while shooting with his left hand due to a right elbow injury. In his first two seasons, Federal Way won 63 consecutive games, the longest streak in state history since 1977. As a junior, he averaged 21.3 points, 10 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 3.3 blocks. As a senior, he broke the school single-game scoring record with 51 points against Todd Beamer High School and averaged 23.3 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. He was named Class 4A Player of the Year and Washington Gatorade Player of the Year.

McDaniels was a consensus five-star recruit and the top power forward in the 2019 class. He committed to Washington on May 22, 2019, over Kentucky. As a freshman, he averaged 13 points and 5.8 rebounds and started 21 games before moving to a bench role midway through Pac-12 play. He was projected as a potential number-one pick in the 2020 draft and declared after his freshman season.

The Lakers selected McDaniels 28th overall and traded him to Oklahoma City along with Danny Green for Dennis Schröder. He was then flipped to Minnesota in exchange for the draft rights to Aleksej Pokuševski. He made his NBA debut on December 27, 2020, scoring six points in eight minutes against the Lakers.

In April 2023, McDaniels fractured his right hand after punching a wall following a win over the New Orleans Pelicans. On October 23, 2023, he signed his five-year extension. In November 2023, he was involved in an altercation with Klay Thompson during a game against Golden State that resulted in his ejection and a fine. In 2023–24, he was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team and helped Minnesota sweep the Phoenix Suns in the first round while scoring a then playoff career-high 25 points in Game 2.

The 2024–25 season saw McDaniels take an offensive leap, setting a career-high of 30 points against Portland on February 8, 2025. He started all 82 games, averaging 12.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. In the playoffs, he scored 30 points in Game 3 against the Lakers. On April 30, 2026, he posted a playoff career-high 32 points and 10 rebounds in a series-clinching win over the Denver Nuggets. In March 2026, he was diagnosed with left knee patella tendinopathy and a bone bruise.

McDaniels is a long, versatile wing with elite defensive tools and a developing offensive game. At 6 feet 9 inches with a wingspan near 7 feet, he guards multiple positions, disrupts passing lanes, and contests shots on the perimeter. Offensively, he has added three-point shooting, cutting, and transition finishing to complement his defensive identity.

McDaniels remains a foundational piece of the Minnesota Timberwolves roster. He and his partner, Allison Audrey, welcomed a son, Mekhi, in June 2024. His older brother, Jalen, was selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the second round of the 2019 NBA draft. His mother is a cousin of former NBA player Juwan Howard.