When it comes to fan favorites on the Minnesota Timberwolves, Naz Reid has to top the list. Now 26 years old and in his seventh season, Reid has accomplished more than nearly all undrafted players have, and he has only done it with the Wolves.
When it comes to bench production in the NBA over the past few seasons, Reid has to also be at least near (if not atop) that list as well. The 2023-24 Sixth Man of the Year has put himself in a position to potentially join an exclusive list of players coming off the bench with his play thus far in 2025-26.
Kevin McHale. Ricky Pierce. Detlef Schrempf. Jamal Crawford. Lou Williams. Those are the only five players who have won Sixth Man of the Year more than once since the award was instituted, beginning in the 1982-83 season (Crawford and Williams both won three times).
There is a chance that Reid can join them and become the sixth player to do so.
Naz Reid had season-high point total on Monday
It was a magnificent performance for the seventh-year big man on Monday night in the Timberwolves’ 136-101 blowout victory over the Chicago Bulls. In about 27 minutes of game action, Reid scored a season-high 33 points (just one point shy of matching his career-high) to go along with seven rebounds and three assists.
Naz Reid 33 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST, 11/18 FG, 6/10 3FG, 5/5 FT, 81.7% TS vs Bulls https://t.co/WdUx9ZYRPp pic.twitter.com/6bF4UQ0Hwv
— Basketball Performances (@NBAPerformances) December 30, 2025
Reid hasn’t missed any of Minnesota’s first 33 games this season, and he has come off the bench in every one of them. While his shooting percentages are slightly down from when he won the award in 2023-24, many of his averages on the year are higher (14.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.0 steals).
Reid has overcome slow start to the season
It was a bit of a slow start to the season for Reid (understandable because of the tragedy that struck his family). In six of his first 11 outings, he scored less than 10 points. In the ensuing 22 games, Reid has done so just three times. The team is also a plus-63 with him on the court in December (plus-7 prior to that).
Right now, Reid isn’t seen as the favorite to win the award. Currently on DraftKings Sportsbook, he has the fifth-best odds.
With more than half the regular season remaining, though, Reid has put himself in the conversation to potentially join the other five multiple-time Sixth Man of the Year winners.