Jaden McDaniels is giving the Timberwolves everything they need and then some

Jaden McDaniels' defense has always made him one of the Minnesota Timberwolves' most important players. His blend of exceptional on-ball defense and versatility as a defensive playmaker allows him to be one of the league's most impactful defenders. However, McDaniels' offensive growth has truly been a game-changer for him and the Timberwolves as a whole. 

On the season, McDaniels is averaging 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists on stellar 51.8/45.2/84.2 shooting splits. This is a sizable leap from his 12.2 ppg on 47.7/33/81.3 shooting splits last season. 

There is no better game to encapsulate McDaniels' growth than Tuesday's performance against the Portland Trail Blazers. He poured in 29 points (12-for-16 shooting), six rebounds, two assists, five blocks, and three steals. When McDaniels plays like this, he truly looks like one of the league's best two-way players. 

McDaniels' offensive growth

It's only February, and McDaniels has 15 games where he's scored 20-plus points, which is already more than last year. This speaks volumes to his newfound offensive consistency. Yes, McDaniels still has the occasional off-night, but more often than not, he is a consistent threat, and his off-nights are typically tied to a lack of proper usage. 

As mentioned earlier, McDaniels has always been one of the best defenders in the league. Heading into the season, an offensive leap from the 25-year-old was anticipated. I don't think it's a shocker that McDaniels is averaging 15.2 points, but the efficiency with which he's doing it makes this leap a bit surprising. 

Having dependable tertiary creation next to Anthony Edwards was an element the Wolves had lacked in years past -- McDaniels has quickly changed this, though. Plus, he has become one of the league's best spot-up shooters, netting 48.4 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s. Impressively, McDaniels ranks in the 98th percentile for catch-and-shoot 3-point shot making efficiency according to Basketball Index. 

Considering that he shot 33 percent from beyond the arc last season, there's no denying the impact of this shooting leap. 

McDaniels' 2.9 assists per game are also a career-high and a notable area of improvement. He can initiate the Wolves' offense at times and consistently makes the right reads, especially in the pick-and-roll.

McDaniels' defensive impact is more significant than you think

While I briefly mentioned McDaniels' defensive impact, I don't want to gloss over it. He is well-known for his elite on-ball defense and ability to take star perimeter players out of games. Notably, he is holding players to 44.2 percent shooting from the field. Furthermore, McDaniels ranks in the 99th percentile for matchup difficulty and the 98th percentile for perimeter isolation defense per Basketball Index. 

McDaniels' on-ball defense is enough to make him one of the league's best defenders. However, he also quietly provides stellar rim protection. Opposing players are shooting just 52.2 percent within six feet of the hoop (league average is 63.6 percent), and he ranks in the 96th percentile for blocks per 100 possessions per Databaller.

Whether it's his scoring efficiency or ability to protect the rim, McDaniels gives the Wolves even more of an impact than they could have hoped for. All in all, there's no understating his importance to the team's success.