There’s a certain luxury an NBA team has when they have a player who primarily comes off the bench, but they can be counted on nightly. That’s what the Minnesota Timberwolves have had with Naz Reid for years, and they continue to have that luxury today.
Nobody is saying that the Timberwolves shouldn’t look to add some spark off the bench by the February 5 trade deadline. Without Reid, though, Minnesota would be doomed, and they would have, without question, the least productive bench in the entire league.
Naz is having a stellar January
It was just another night at the office for Reid on Thursday as the Timberwolves defeated the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder. In the outing, the 26-year-old finished with 18 points (6-10 from the field, 4-8 on threes), seven rebounds, two assists, and a block. The team was a +11 in his 29 minutes.
Naz Reid talked to us about the confidence in his shot selection.
— SneakerReporter (@SneakerReporter) January 30, 2026
You can hear Bones in the background co-signing that Naz been making these shots since he was little. pic.twitter.com/3fs1GD2XFD
That continues a superb stretch for Reid, particularly since the ball dropped to begin 2026. He has two scoreless outings in the new year, but one came after he left five minutes into the game with a sore shoulder. The other game came after their contest with the Golden State Warriors was delayed a day, and the vibes were understandably off for everyone involved due to the happenings occurring in Minnesota.
In the other 13 games in January, Naz is averaging 18.2 points while shooting 55.6% from the field and 47.4% from beyond the arc. Tuesday marked the seventh time this month that Reid has totaled at least 18 points.
Just as important, Reid doesn’t miss time. The seven-year veteran has appeared in all 49 contests this season and missed just three combined in the previous two years.
Sixth Man of the Year again?
The 2023-24 Sixth Man of the Year is putting himself in contention to win the award for a second time. At 30-19, the Timberwolves currently sit fifth in the Western Conference, and it's safe to say that their record wouldn't be nearly as good without Reid playing each and every outing.
There’s a reason that Minnesota is heavily rumored to make a deal that helps to improve the bench. None of the Wolves' reserves other than Reid produces for the team consistently. The second-year development of Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr. just hasn’t happened.
Reid has been a fan favorite throughout his seven years as an undrafted player who has clawed and scratched to become such a vital piece of a very good team the last few years. It’s painful to think where the Timberwolves would be without his services.