Only die-hard fans understand the full significance of Jaden McDaniels' impact

When the average NBA fan hears the name Jaden McDaniels, they probably think of a great defender. However, recently, McDaniels has grown to be so much more than just a defender. He garnered a fair amount of attention across the league at the beginning of the season for this offensive leap.

Still, I don't think he gets enough praise, and outside of the Minnesota Timberwolves fan base, I don't think enough people understand the full significance of McDaniels' impact.

McDaniels' season averages of 15 points and 2.8 assists don't tell the full story of his offensive growth or impact. I'll admit it -- a 2.8 ppg leap doesn't sound significant. Nevertheless, watching McDaniels, it's clear that he's become a different player. He's more decisive with the ball in his hands, attacks closeouts better, and has become a dependable 3-point shooting threat. McDaniels is currently shooting 41.5 percent from beyond the arc, which is an impressive jump from his previous 33.5 percent 3-point shooting last year.

Undoubtedly, McDaniels' offensive growth, paired with his immense defensive value, makes him a more important player than most people are aware of.

McDaniels offers a ton of value on both ends of the court

Even McDaniels' defense can be a bit overlooked in the eyes of the general public. The 6-foot-9 forward typically guards the opposing team's best perimeter player. He is holding opposing players to 42.9 percent shooting from the field while ranking in the 99th percentile for matchup difficulty per Basketball Index.

McDaniels also provides high-level rim protection as a help-side defender, and he can wreak havoc as a defensive playmaker. Notably, McDaniels averages 2.1 stocks per game. Furthermore, he ranks in the 93rd percentile for rim disruption per Basketball Index. I think most people understand his elite on-ball defense, but his versatility and defensive playmaking are underrated. His skill set, paired with Rudy Gobert, makes the Wolves an elite defense.

Offensively, McDaniels' growth as a 3-point shooter opens up his game and the Wolves' offense as a whole. Beyond that, though, McDaniels is an elite finisher -- he is shooting 70.1 percent at the rim. The Washington product has also grown significantly as a shot creator at all three levels. He gives Anthony Edwards and the Wolves a dependable third option -- something they've lacked for years.

While he's not a point guard by any means, McDaniels is capable of taking on some ball-handling duties and initiating the offense. His 2.8 assists per game are career-high and he ranks in the 84th percentile as a pick-and-roll ball handler. As such, McDaniels is a key part of the Timberwolves being able to succeed in a point guard-less offense.

In short, McDaniels offers a little bit of everything on both ends of the court, and he's a key part of the Wolves' success. McDaniels might never get the national praise that he deserves, but Timberwolves fans will always appreciate his all-around impact.