Naz Reid, Wolves’ walking firecracker

Not so long ago, Wolves were on three straight defeats and under 50% winning streak at 35-37… But a four-game winning streak put them back on track, just one win behind the Warriors, last direct qualifiers in sixth place in the Western Conference.

At the heart of this timely ramp-up is Naz Reid. The 23-year-old Wolves interior is simply averaging 20 points and 5 rebounds in his last five outings, with the highlights to go with it, including a huge nose dunk from Alex Len, the latest victim of a list that continues to grow this season…

No rest for the wicked…

But it all started during the last All-Star Break. While all his teammates had left to bask in the pill or take their mind off things, Naz Reid stayed in Minneapolis. To work!

“It was a moment to improve myself or at least to stay at the level where I had arrived”he describes in The Athletic. “It was a question of preparing as well as possible for the period we are going through at the moment. I’m not saying that I wasn’t completely focused, but I felt like I had to impose this extra dose of work on myself to help our build-up. »

In his fourth NBA season, all in Minnesota, Naz Reid achieved his most successful exercise with 11 points and 54% shooting success. Mobile interior and skilled with his dribbling hands, the former LSU player produces his best basketball in his career, at the best of times for Wolves who want to qualify directly for the playoffs.

“Naz is just amazing”, adds Jaden McDaniels. “He comes into play and he scores, takes rebounds. He does everything the team needs. I call him DeMarcus Cousins, the early one. He’s the one I see when I see Naz play. »

With the return of Karl-Anthony Towns, one could think that Naz Reid would fall into line. On the contrary, with his mini individual training camp in mid-February, it ultimately did not disturb him, the back-up getting at least 20 minutes over the last three meetings.

A dunk headhunter!

“That he continues to play so well when our team is now complete is huge,” welcomes Kyle Anderson. “He is a very good player who is starting to make a name for himself in the League. »

And how ! An adept at dribbling in & out, which is very rare for an interior of his size, Naz Reid is starting to build up a rather edifying roster this season, with resounding dunks on renowned blockers such as Jarrett Allen and Jaren Jackson Jr, but also Pascal Siakam, and a handful of Kings including Chimezie Metu and therefore Alex Len. He even operates on the “coast to coast”… In short, Naz Reid is full of confidence!

“He brings such a boost [en sortie de banc] »appreciates Chris Finch who recently became the second manager (only) of Wolves with more than 100 career victories. “He often causes problems in his duels. His energy, his activity… He also took in some big shots. He can end up in the circle. It gives us an option on opening towards the circle on the pick-and-roll. He does everything. I am also very satisfied with his defense. »

“Free agent” to come this summer, Naz Reid knows that he plays big on this end of the season, and on the playoffs to come. At his level of play, he can hope to claim a starting position in another franchise. But he prefers for the moment to concentrate fully on the end of the season. With ambition!

“It just shows how much I work on my game, how much the team believes in me. It gives me the confidence to do what I do best. I will do the job on both sides of the field. »