V: Amidst all of the Timberwolves chaos of the 2022-23 NBA season, Naz Reid remained above it all
There is a lot to be said about a young man whose focus remains on playing the game and who does not lose focus to distractions. And yes, there were many distractions on the Timberwolves roster and throughout the 2022-23 NBA season a year ago.
There were plenty of opportunities for Naz Reid to question the decisions made by head coach Chris Finch. There were plenty of opportunities for Naz Reid to question the strategy of the Minnesota Timberwolves front office, to protest loudly or subtly over the addition of center Rudy Gobert and how getting playing time became all the more complicated with his descension on the Timberwolves’ depth chart.
Reid rises above the background noise
But he chose to do none of those things. Instead, he chose to make the best of the situation, to go out and compete on the basketball court with each opportunity given, and let the chips fall where they may.
Naz Reid on his hard-nosed style: "I'm going to go out there and fight, do what I do best, no matter who's in front of me." #RaisedByWolves pic.twitter.com/jBHdtXcCpd
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) July 5, 2023
The basketball court is a great equalizer. No matter the player’s salary, the position on the team’s depth chart, the age, or the years of experience playing the game, it’s a brand new test. That’s the boon or bane of competing in professional basketball. Naz Reid gets it. And that’s why he stays focused on the basketball court.