Naz Reid is having a career year for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Averaging 12.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest, the big man and Minnesota fan favorite has been a key contributor to a T-Wolves team that has NBA Finals aspirations.
That was most evident recently last week when the LSU product was a fantasy basketball owner’s dream against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Reid poured in 21 points, hauled in five rebounds and added two blocks, two steals and one assist in 27 minutes of action in Minnesota’s 108-106 victory over the Lakers.
A strong and steady force so far during the 2023-24 NBA season, the Timberwolves have busily found a way to maintain a level of consistency and Reid’s been a huge contributor to that success.
I recently sat down with Reid and discussed team success.
Additionally, in our Q&A format, Reid & I discussed playing alongside teammates Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley Jr. and tons more.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are a well-oiled machine. You’re a big part of it as a key contributor. What’s the difference between last season and this season for you? What’s been your motivation?
I think that it’s being confident and having the confidence to be me now and I have that little bit of room that I can forget about making mistakes and having enough room to where I can just… be me basically. And so, I think that’s the biggest thing and also adds more to my game.
The Timberwolves have twin towers in Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert. How have they adjusted in their second year together in playing more cohesively?
Well, the first year was kind of like… bumpy or whatever. But with everybody in situations, that’s how it gets sometimes and then sometimes it works out perfectly, but this is something here that is abnormal and we had to get used to it and we did that this past year and over the summer and now we’re getting at it this season and those guys are in sync.
Mike Conley Jr. is the vet that you all needed last year. How did his addition benefit the team and how much of a help has he been to the franchise?
He’s good! He’s a leader. He’s my OG; I call him my OG and he’s helped big time. He’s shooting the ball very well, he’s leading the team and conducting the team; he talks to us and makes sure that we’re doing good on the off the court so that’s huge for all of us; especially for the young guys and the rookies and things of that nature.
It’s been said that you need certain OG’s on a young team as a winning formula to compete for an NBA Championship. Is Mike Conley Jr. that OG?
Oh yeah 100 percent! You got to because a lot of guys don’t even know the game like that. So when you have someone that can conduct the game and has been in the game for 17 years, it really helps us out a lot. I think that’s a really big help to all of us.
What song embodies Timberwolves basketball this season?
I don’t know if it’ll be pop… but I know it’ll be something to do with Future. I don’t know, but it’s just something about it that gets us hype. I don’t know what song, but I definitely know it’s Future.
While growing up in Asbury Park, New Jersey and shining at Roselle Catholic High School, who were players that you watched growing up and who did you pattern your game after?
DeMarcus Cousins, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid… pretty much those three guys.
What NBA players do you enjoy watching when you’re not competing?
I try to watch as many teams as possible. I watch OKC. I’m good friends with Chet Holmgren and it’s fun to see how unique they are and how young they are but they get the job done, you know? That’s a team that you really can’t sleep on. I think at one point they were second in the West, but that’s a team that’s gonna be good.
The internet has gone wild with the Anthony Edwards and Michael comparisons. I’ll spare you in replicating that typical question. But, if Edwards were comparable to a car, what kind of a car would he be?
What kind of car? Probably a Lambo because that’s his swag. That’s how he walks in and that’s how he plays, so I think he’s a Lambo.
