With Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, the Wolves have strong players to embody their franchise. However, none of these three players, even though they are All-Stars, are the public's favorites. Indeed, the one whose performances the city celebrates, who has almost become a cult in Minneapolis, is Naz Reid.
Proof of this popularity? After Game 2 of the conference semi-final against the Nuggets, largely won by the Wolves, we could read this message on X/Twitter: “I'll tattoo 'Naz Reid' on anyone who wants it for $20. I'm serious.”
Will tattoo “Naz Reid” on anyone for $20
I'm dead serious
— Wolves Enjoyer (@john_chuck) May 7, 2024
The responses are numerous, very numerous even, with hundreds of people interested. With sometimes surprising profiles… “It was crazy. I think the first person I saw was an 82-year-old woman, and the list went on.”Naz Reid recalls for SLAM Magazine.
Young Minnesota fans were also attracted by the initiative.
“It got to the point where, at the hairdresser, two kids came to see me and my name was their first tattoo.”tells the inside story. “It was a crazy experience. It was exciting. You dream of that when you're young, to have such a 'fan base', that your name causes excitement.”
A towel with his name on it
As the Wolves had a successful regular season and advanced to the Western Conference Finals, fan enthusiasm was understandably widespread. “It’s never been this crazy. It was crazy. We had posters everywhere. It was awesome.”notes Naz Reid.
But once again, it is the best sixth man of the 2023/24 season who is entitled to little attentions. The fans notably had a towel marked with his name on March 22. “That's when I really realized things.”he confides. “I never really explained how much I enjoyed that moment, how excited, wanted and loved I felt.”
Tattoo or towel, no doubt, the favorite is Naz Reid. “I love each and every one of you. You’ve seen me come in and work every day, from the time I signed a two-way contract until now. I think everyone knows how hard I’ve worked, how dedicated I’ve been, the expectations I’ve had to get to this point. It’s not going to stop. This is just the beginning,” he concludes, addressing the fans.
| Naz Reid | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2019-20 | MIN | 30 | 17 | 41.2 | 33.0 | 69.8 | 1.1 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 9.0 |
| 2020-21 | MIN | 70 | 19 | 52.3 | 35.1 | 69.3 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 4.6 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 11.2 |
| 2021-22 | MIN | 77 | 16 | 48.9 | 34.3 | 76.5 | 1.3 | 2.6 | 3.9 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 8.3 |
| 2022-23 | MIN | 68 | 18 | 53.7 | 34.6 | 67.7 | 1.1 | 3.8 | 4.9 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 11.5 |
| 2023-24 | MIN | 81 | 24 | 47.7 | 41.4 | 73.6 | 0.9 | 4.3 | 5.2 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 13.5 |
| Total | 326 | 19 | 49.6 | 37.1 | 71.7 | 1.1 | 3.5 | 4.6 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 10.9 | |
How to read the stats? GM = Games Played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots Made / Shots Attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers Attempted; LF = Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted; Off = Offensive Rebound; Def = Defensive Rebound; Tot = Total Rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal Fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose Balls; Ct: Blocks; Pts = Points.
