Naz Reid: Timberwolves investment that already pays huge dividends

The Minnesota Timberwolves extended backup center Naz Reid in the offseason. Some asked the question why the Timberwolves, having made huge investments in both center Rudy Gobert and center/power forward Karl-Anthony Towns, would invest further into the center position by re-signing Naz Reid.

In professional sports, there are times when a player is re-signed because he is just that good, his production is rapidly trending in a positive direction, and you don’t want to miss out on the heights that the player will bring to the sport in the near future.

But on those other occasions, a player is re-signed because that player’s work ethic is unsurpassed. The player has put in the work, paid the dues, and been beloved by everyone along the way as the player climbed through the ranks to get to center stage.

Naz Reid. That’s it. ‘Nuff said

For the Minnesota Timberwolves, Naz Reid is the rare unicorn. You see, he checks all of the boxes in both categories, and it was on full display against the New York Knicks in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ third preseason game.

The Minnesota Timberwolves (3-0) defeated a very good New York Knicks (1-1) team in Madison Square Garden. And if you were expecting the Timberwolves and the Knicks to simply go through the motions, you were in for a treat.

This was not a standard preseason game. Rather, it was a game that the Knicks appeared to want very much to win. After spotting the Knicks to an eight-point lead to open the game, the Timberwolves caught on and decided to meet the Knicks stride for stride.

Wolves take Madison Square Garden by storm

At the end of the game, it seemed as though the Timberwolves overshot the mark and emerged a winner in a very competitive preseason game. But don’t be fooled by the fact that this was a preseason game. This was very much a regular season level of play, and it showed time and time again as passions soared and tempers flared throughout the game.

Curiously, it was the physicality of the New York Knicks that set the stage, and the Timberwolves were a bit surprised by that level of play. So surprised, in fact, that the Timberwolves wing Nickeil Alexander-Walker had committed three shooting fouls in less than four minutes of regulation play in the game.

Knicks get knocked back

The Knicks did not just drive to the basket. Rather, they seemed to relish driving through a Timberwolves defender along the way, a pattern that Naz Reid was having none of when Knicks guard R.J. Barrett attempted to do so as he defended:

Some fans wondered why Reid was angered by the play, so much so that he finished with a shove to the back of Barrett. But if you watch in replay, Barrett drove too close into Naz Reid, entangling the two players, and nearly knocking Reid backward onto the basketball court. Reid reacted with a warning shove to Barrett, letting him know that he was not thrilled with that style of offense that could end up injuring someone.

At the time of that play, the Knicks were able to tie the score as the game entered the fourth quarter. But Naz Reid had done more than stop the Knicks from scoring on that play.  He awoke a slumbering Timberwolves team that jumped out to a three-point lead from his 25-foot jumper and never looked back.

Naz Reid’s passionate play in physical victory

The game was quite physical, and the Naz Reid of yesteryear may have wilted against such talented and determined opposition in the past. But this is a new and improved Naz Reid, a young player who embodies the passion of a fan base that has watched him from his modest G-League playing days and has cheered along every step of the way.

Naz Reid led the Timberwolves in scoring in this one, dropping 22 points in just 19 minutes of play off the bench. He also added a rebound, an assist, a steal, and a block for good measure. While everyone focuses on the points scored, each and every play that Naz Reid made helped the Minnesota Timberwolves secure a very competitive win.

Reid leads the Wolves in scoring

How good was Naz Reid in this one?

Naz Reid was more than just a guy coming off the bench in this one. He was an emotional spark. He brought the firepower with his five of eight treys to put up 22 points in a game that the Timberwolves won by a nine-point margin. He brought the fire as well, breaking the tie-game deadlock after three quarters leading the Timberwolves to a fourth-quarter rally that turned out to be the game right there.

In the end, the Minnesota Timberwolves invested in a promising young NBA center for the future. But Naz Reid is already delivering on that investment, today.

You may enjoy these Minnesota Timberwolves articles as well:

• NBA Rumors: Will Karl-Anthony Towns be auditioning for his next NBA team?
• Shake Milton cements Wolves role as he knocks Knicks around
• Who gets more Timberwolves PF minutes? KAT, Slo-Mo, Minott, or other?
• How does this team compare to the 2003-04 Minnesota Timberwolves?
• Timberwolves decision over McDaniels’ extension could shake the future of the entire NBA
• Wolves foresee Shake Milton powering the bench this season