Jaden McDaniels is recognized as one of the premier defenders in the league, showcasing his position versatility. The 6’9″ wing takes pride in his capability to influence the game on the defensive end by containing elite players.
The franchise’s early dominance in the league this season has largely to do with Jaden’s defensive abilities alongside Anthony Edwards’ offensive leadership. However, there seems to be bad news for the Timberwolves fans as he is set to enjoy some time on the sideline.
Chris Finch offers latest update on Jaden McDaniels
The Timberwolves will miss one of their starters for the rest of the month after Rudy Gobert was involved in a scuffle with Warriors Draymond Green. Although Gobert is expected to continue playing while Green faced suspension, it is their young star who recently suffered yet another injury.
Jaden McDaniels, the forward who sprained his right ankle in Monday’s 117-100 win over the New York Knicks, is expected to be sidelined for at least a week, according to Chris Finch, the Timberwolves’ coach, who informed reporters about McDaniel’s injury per SI.com.
Following an MRI at the Mayo Clinic on Tuesday, it was confirmed that McDaniels has a Grade 1 right lateral ankle sprain. The team’s press release stated that he is likely to be out for 2-3 weeks, with a re-evaluation scheduled in one week.
Although McDaniels doesn’t contribute much offensively, with an average of 7.2 shots per game, he plays a crucial role in their defense. He has 11 games he has started this season with an average of 9.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 23.6 minutes per game.
Last season, McDaniels started 79 games, with averages of 12.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 30.6 minutes. The Timberwolves showed their commitment to McDaniels this summer by signing him to a five-year extension worth up to $136 million which is a sign of trust and belief in his talent.
Jaden McDaniels injury historycatch
Jaden McDaniels who joined the Minnesota Timberwolves as 2020 NBA first-round draft pick, has excelled in his role over the years. However, his career so far has been limited by a series of injuries.
Though he has missed an ample number of games in his career through illness and some personal reasons in the past, it was mainly due to injuries that the young star had time and again been sidelined.
On April 9, 2023, Jaden McDaniels, the forward for the Minnesota Timberwolves, fractured his hand by punching a wall during the regular-season finale against the New Orleans Pelicans, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
As of October 24, 2023, the Timberwolves announced that McDaniels will be absent for the team’s regular-season opener in Toronto. He had sustained a left calf strain during the NBA Abu Dhabi Games in October.
Timberwolves who recently confirmed McDaniels’ ankle sprain injury will have to call on the bench between Rudy Gobert and Kyle Anderson to replace the injured McDaniels.
Regrettably, it appears that the Timberwolves may face the risk of not having McDaniels for their upcoming playoff games if he takes long to recover than the estimated time frame.
