2025-26 Season

JADEN MCDANIELS

Minnesota Timberwolves | Forward | 6-9

2025-26 Season

JADEN MCDANIELS

Minnesota Timberwolves | Forward | 6-9 | Yr 5

14.9 PPG

4.3 RPG

2.7 APG

31.8 MPG

+4.2 Impact

McDaniels produces at an above average rate for a 32-minute workload.

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NET IMPACT BREAKDOWN

Every stat, every credit, every cost — per game average

+4.2

Scoring +13.8

Points 14.9 PPG = +10.7

Shot Making above expected FG% = +3.1

Creation +1.1

Creation 2.7 AST/g = +1.1

Turnovers -4.1

Turnovers 1.8/g = -4.1

Defense +0.2

Defense 1.1 STL, 1.0 BLK = +0.2

Hustle & Effort +3.4

Rebounds 4.3 RPG = +3.4

Raw Impact +14.4

Baseline (game-average expected) −10.2

Net Impact

+4.2

71st pctl vs Forwards

PBP Credit: Every play is analyzed from play-by-play data. Scorers get difficulty-adjusted credit, assisters get creation value based on the shot opportunity they created, and turnovers are classified by type. Shot difficulty is derived from 1M+ shots across 4 seasons. Full methodology

TEAM COMPARISON

Impact

Creation

Hustle

Defense

of 13 teammates (10+ games, 10+ min)

Anthony Edwards +18.4 Rudy Gobert +12.0 Julius Randle +9.8 Ayo Dosunmu +4.9 Jaden McDaniels +4.5 Naz Reid +3.8 Donte DiVincenzo +2.9 Bones Hyland -2.2 Terrence Shannon Jr. -3.1 Kyle Anderson -3.7 Jaylen Clark -5.5 Mike Conley -5.9 Rob Dillingham -10.6

Similar Players

Same position, closest production profile this season.

SKILL DNA

Percentile rank vs 234 Forwards with 10+ games

Scoring 77th

14.9 PPG

Efficiency 74th

60.1% TS

Playmaking 78th

2.7 APG

Rebounding 53th

4.3 RPG

Defense 62th

+7.7/g

Hustle 24th

+8.9/g

Creation 83th

+3.95/g

Shot Making 68th

+7.08/g

TO Discipline 30th

0.06/min

THE SEASON SO FAR

Jaden McDaniels opened the 2025-26 season riding a wildly volatile two-way rollercoaster, oscillating between absolute lockdown terror and passive offensive liability. When fully engaged, his ceiling was terrifying, peaking during 11/07 vs UTA where he posted a massive +18.2 impact score alongside 22 points. That outing was a masterclass in two-way dominance, driven entirely by suffocating Utah's primary creators and punishing defensive lapses. He also found ways to salvage his value when his jumper completely abandoned him. During 11/21 vs PHX, a frigid 0-for-5 night from beyond the arc resulted in just 13 points, yet he still managed a +4.7 impact because elite defensive metrics and high-motor hustle plays overshadowed the shooting woes. Conversely, empty offensive calories frequently dragged down his overall value, perfectly illustrated by his 12/25 vs DEN appearance. Despite pouring in 21 points on highly efficient 9-of-12 shooting in that contest, hidden costs on the margins dropped his overall impact to a disappointing -2.4.

A maddening inconsistency defined this stretch for Jaden McDaniels, who oscillated violently between two-way dominance and offensive invisibility. When fully engaged, he looked untouchable. Just look at his masterpiece on 12/06 vs LAC, where searing offensive efficiency and suffocating wing defense generated a massive +14.3 impact score. Yet, that ceiling was constantly threatened by nights where his offensive execution actively harmed the team. During an ugly outing on 01/10 vs CLE, he posted a disastrous -13.6 impact score because his sharp regression left a massive void in the offensive flow. Even when his raw scoring totals looked respectable, clunky shot selection frequently dragged him down. On 01/20 vs UTA, he managed 18 points but still posted a -6.6 impact score, as a barrage of missed perimeter looks completely negated his otherwise solid defensive metrics.

This mid-season stretch was defined by maddening inconsistency, with Jaden McDaniels oscillating violently between two-way brilliance and total offensive irrelevance. Even when his scoring totals looked robust, hidden costs often dragged his overall value into the red. Take 01/31 vs MEM, where he dropped 20 points on efficient shooting but still posted a -4.2 impact score due to poor floor execution. Conversely, he could easily tilt the game without filling up the basket. During a gritty 02/26 vs LAC matchup, he managed just 12 points but generated a +7.0 impact because his elite defensive metrics completely anchored the rotation. When everything aligned, he was an absolute monster. His ceiling arrived on 02/24 vs POR, where flawless perimeter shot selection and suffocating defense fueled 29 points and an astronomical +23.5 impact score.

IMPACT TIMELINE

Game-by-game performance vs average. Green = above average, red = below.

Best Game

22 PTS vs UTA

Nov 08 | +26.9 impact

Worst Game

7 PTS vs DAL

Feb 20 | -19.8 impact

PATTERNS

Volatile for his role. McDaniels has noticeable ups and downs, with scoring moving ~7 points between games.

Middle-of-the-road efficiency — shoots 45%+ from the field in 64% of games. Not automatic, but not a problem either.

Defensive difference-maker. McDaniels consistently forces tough shots and protects the rim — opponents shoot worse when he's guarding them.

Hot right now — 8 straight games with positive impact. Longest positive run this season: 8 games.

MATCHUP HISTORY

Based on 71 games with tracking data. Shows who guarded this player on offense and who he guarded on defense, with their shooting stats in those matchups.