Jaden McDaniels Bio
Jaden McDaniels (born September 29, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 9 inches tall and listed at 185 pounds, he plays both power forward and small forward, giving the Timberwolves a versatile frontcourt presence. McDaniels first gained national attention as a five-star recruit out of Federal Way High School in Washington, and he has since developed into one of the league’s most respected young defenders.
After a single season at the University of Washington, McDaniels was selected 28th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers before being traded to Minnesota on draft night. He quickly became a rotation regular and, by 2024, had earned a spot on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, establishing himself as a cornerstone of the Timberwolves’ long-term plans.
Early Life and Background
Jaden McDaniels was born on September 29, 2000, in Federal Way, Washington. He grew up alongside his older brother, Jalen McDaniels, and the two spent their formative years immersed in basketball. Both of his parents, Will McDaniels and Angela Jackson, are originally from Chicago, giving the family deep roots in a city known for its rich basketball tradition.
McDaniels is also related to former NBA player Juwan Howard through his mother’s side of the family, a connection that further connected the household to professional basketball. From a young age, Jaden trained alongside Jalen, and the brothers pushed each other to improve on the court.
Path to Basketball
McDaniels attended Federal Way High School, where he starred for one of the top programs in Washington state. As a freshman, he was teammates with Jalen and helped Federal Way capture its second straight Class 4A state championship, contributing 2.4 points and 1.8 rebounds per game on varsity while shooting left-handed because of a right elbow injury. Over his first two seasons, he was part of a 63-game winning streak, the longest in state history since 1977.
As a junior, McDaniels guided Federal Way to a runner-up finish at the 4A state tournament while averaging 21.3 points, 10 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 3.3 blocks per game, and he earned USA Today All-USA Washington first team honors. He capped his senior year by erupting for 51 points against Todd Beamer High School on January 25, 2019, breaking the school single-game record held by Donny Marshall. He finished his senior season averaging 23.3 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks, earning Class 4A Player of the Year and Washington Gatorade Player of the Year recognition. Rated a consensus five-star recruit and the top power forward in the 2019 class, McDaniels committed to the University of Washington in May 2019.
Jaden McDaniels Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
McDaniels began his college career at Washington as a projected lottery pick. In his collegiate debut, a 67–64 upset win over Baylor, he scored 18 points and added seven rebounds, signaling his readiness for higher competition. He finished the season with a high of 22 points against Ball State, and he averaged 13 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while starting 21 contests before moving to a bench role midway through conference play.
After one season in Seattle, McDaniels declared for the 2020 NBA Draft. The Los Angeles Lakers selected him with the 28th overall pick, but he was quickly traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a deal for Dennis Schröder and then sent to Minnesota in exchange for Aleksej Pokuševski. On December 27, 2020, he made his NBA debut against the Lakers, recording 6 points and 1 rebound in eight minutes off the bench.
Minnesota Timberwolves (2020–Present)
McDaniels spent his first three seasons in Minnesota developing his game, and on October 23, 2023, he signed a five-year contract extension worth $136 million, locking him in as a long-term piece of the franchise. That season ended in disappointment, though, after a fractured right hand suffered on April 9, 2023, when he punched a wall following a win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
By the 2023–24 campaign, McDaniels had become a defensive anchor, and on April 23, 2024, he led all scorers with 25 points in a 105–93 victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 2 of the first round, helping the Timberwolves sweep the series. His efforts that postseason earned him a selection to the 2023–24 NBA All-Defensive Second Team. The 2024–25 season saw him take a major offensive leap, highlighted by a career-high 30 points in a 114–98 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on February 8, 2025, and a 27-point performance in a historic 131–128 overtime comeback against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 24, 2025. He started all 82 games that year, averaging 12.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists.
Notable Events and Milestones
On April 25, 2025, McDaniels set a then-playoff career high with 30 points in a 116–104 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3, and on April 30, 2026, he posted a new playoff career high of 32 points with 10 rebounds in a 110–98 closeout win over the Denver Nuggets in Game 6. He was also fined for his role in a November 14, 2023, altercation with Klay Thompson that sparked a brawl against the Golden State Warriors.
Jaden McDaniels Career Highlights
McDaniels has compiled an impressive list of accomplishments across the high-school, college, and professional levels. His early accolades include McDonald’s All-American honors in 2019 and Washington Gatorade Player of the Year recognition, and he has since added an NBA All-Defensive Second Team nod in 2024.
NBA Highlights
In the NBA, McDaniels has continued to grow into a two-way force. His first signature postseason moment came in the 2024 first round against Phoenix, and he has since raised his scoring ceiling in the playoffs against the Lakers and the Denver Nuggets. He signed a $136 million extension in 2023 and has started every regular-season game for the Timberwolves in 2024–25.
Jaden McDaniels Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Basketball runs deep in the McDaniels household. Jaden’s older brother, Jalen McDaniels, was a four-star recruit at Federal Way High School and was selected in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. The brothers played together on the same Federal Way team and pushed each other to elite status. Through his mother, Angela Jackson, Jaden is a cousin of former NBA player Juwan Howard.
Personal Life
McDaniels is in a relationship with Allison Audrey, and the couple welcomed their first child, a son named Mekhi, in 2024. Both of his parents, Will McDaniels and Angela Jackson, are originally from Chicago, and the family has long blended its Midwestern roots with life in the Pacific Northwest.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 season marked a turning point for McDaniels, who started all 82 games for the Timberwolves and posted averages of 12.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. He strung together several of the most productive stretches of his career, including a 30-point outing against the Portland Trail Blazers on February 8, 2025, and a clutch 27-point performance in a 131–128 overtime comeback against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 24, 2025.
He carried that momentum into the postseason, scoring 30 points in a 116–104 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the first round on April 25, 2025, helping Minnesota advance past the defending champions. His two-way consistency and improved scoring punch made him a key piece of the Timberwolves’ rotation as the franchise built around its young core.
