Jaden McDaniels Injury History

Jaden McDaniels plays as a starting small forward for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Born on September 29, 2000, McDaniels first garnered attention at Federal Way High School, where he was a five-star recruit. He played one season at the University of Washington, before declaring for the NBA Draft. In 2020, he was selected 28th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers, who traded him first to the Oklahoma City Thunder and then to his current team, the Timberwolves. Since his rookie season, McDaniels has shown growth as an offensive player. He went from averaging 6.8 points per game to contributing 12.1 points per game. He is a well-rounded offensive player capable of hitting corner threes and finishing at the rim with intensity. On April 23, 2024, McDaniels showcased his complete offensive skill set in a playoff game, scoring a career-high 25 points to lead the Timberwolves to a 105-93 victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 2 of the first round.

However, it’s McDaniels’ elite defense that truly distinguishes him as he was named to the All-NBA defensive second team for the 2023-24 season. Recognized as one of the NBA’s top lockdown defenders, Jaden McDaniels is versatile enough to guard multiple positions. For the 2024-25 season, he will earn a salary of $22,586,207. McDaniels is expected to play a central role in the Timberwolves' success for years to come.

Jaden McDaniels’s Injury History

Jaden McDaniels, in his fifth NBA season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, has experienced several injury setbacks throughout his promising career. While his first two seasons were relatively injury-free, he has faced a few injuries since then, including some heart-breaking injuries that affected his playing time during playoffs at crucial times. Here’s a detailed look at his injury history —

Major Injuries Jaden McDaniels Sustained in the NBA

Left Ankle Sprain (2022 March )

In March 2022, Jaden McDaniels suffered a left ankle sprain during a game against the San Antonio Spurs. The injury occurred late in the game, with just 41.9 seconds left in the fourth quarter. An MRI confirmed the sprain, and McDaniels was sidelined for the next nine games, from March 16 to April 3, 2022.

Right-Hand Fracture (2023 April)

Jaden McDaniels was injured again during the final game of the 2022-23 season. In the final game 82 of the regular season against the New Orleans Pelicans, Jaden McDaniels broke his right hand after punching a wall in frustration following his second foul of the game. The injury occurred just before halftime, and after the punch, McDaniels was seen icing his hand on the bench and was unable to return for the second half of the game.

This self-inflicted injury kept McDaniels out of the Timberwolves' two play-in games and their first-round playoff exit against the Denver Nuggets. McDaniels spoke to reporters during the 2023-24 preseason about how missing the playoffs motivated him. He admitted that it was difficult to watch his teammates compete without him. This setback strengthened his determination to avoid missing crucial moments as he had a healthy season in 2023-24 as the Timberwolves reached the Western Conference Finals in the 2024 Playoffs.

Right Ankle Sprain (2023 November)

In November 2023, McDaniels suffered another right ankle sprain in a game against the New York Knicks. The injury occurred on November 20, 2023, and McDaniels was forced to miss several games. He underwent an MRI, which confirmed the sprain. The Timberwolves announced that McDaniels would be out of the lineup for two to three weeks. He missed a total of eight games during this period.