McDaniels propelled the Timberwolves to victory near his hometown.
Jaden McDaniels has never been someone who needs a spotlight to keep working. He just works.
And after a dominant performance in Minnesota's 124-121 road win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night, the sixth-year forward made it clear that nothing about that is going to change anytime soon.
"That's probably what got me to the NBA," McDaniels said after the game. "Just always working hard and just staying in the gym and just wanting to get better. So I'm just not going to stop doing that."
A Career Night in Portland
McDaniels was everything Tuesday. He finished with 29 points on 12-of-16 shooting, including five of six from three-point range, and added six rebounds, five blocks and three steals in just over 37 minutes.
It was a performance that reminded the Western Conference what Minnesota looks like when its best two-way player is fully locked in.
He controlled the first quarter almost by himself, hitting three three-pointers and swatting four shots before Portland could find its footing.
The Blazers, already without All-Star Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe, had no answer for him on either end.
When they attacked the rim, he was there. When they tried to switch him on the perimeter, he was there too.
Anthony Edwards led the Wolves with 34 points and Rudy Gobert was huge late with 19 rebounds, but McDaniels' box score was the standout line of the night.
Head coach Chris Finch wasn't surprised.
"Nothing happens without the work," Finch said. "He's an incredible worker. He never misses a moment. Plays every day, practices every day, is in the gym, on his workout times, all the time. He puts the work in, but he's also got the confidence now that goes alongside of all that work."
Minnesota improved to 36-23 on the season with the win, while Portland fell to 27-32.
A Player Who Has Grown Into His Role
It's easy to forget how far McDaniels has come.
Drafted 28th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 before being dealt to Minnesota, he came into the league as a raw defensive prospect with a lot of length and not much else.
His shooting was inconsistent, and his offense was a real question mark in his early years.
That's not who he is anymore.
This season, McDaniels is averaging 14.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 51.2 percent from the field and 44.0 percent from three, all career bests.
He earned All-Defensive honors in 2023-24, and now his offense has grown to match his defense, making him one of the most complete forwards in the conference.
After Minnesota's win over the Blazers earlier this month, the Timberwolves now have five players averaging at least 14 points per game, and McDaniels is right in the middle of that group.
The Wolves Are Built to Contend
Tuesday's win was Minnesota's fourth in five games since the All-Star break.
Gobert's return after a one-game suspension made a real difference late, and Donte DiVincenzo knocked down five threes off the bench to keep Portland from getting comfortable.
But it's McDaniels who sets the tone in a way few players can and he called out the team's issues after a rough loss earlier this month, pointing to rebounding and finishing as areas that needed to improve.
Against Portland, those things weren't a problem.
The Timberwolves face the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night to close out the back-to-back, and our three takeaways from Tuesday's win break down just how big a performance it was for the entire roster.
If this version of McDaniels keeps showing up, the Wolves are going to be a real problem for anyone in the playoffs.