{"id":760103,"date":"2026-04-29T00:07:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T00:07:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/760103\/"},"modified":"2026-04-29T00:07:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T00:07:22","slug":"timberwolves-jaden-mcdaniels-unfazed-by-boos-from-nuggets-fans-they-cant-get-in-my-head","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/760103\/","title":{"rendered":"Timberwolves\u2019 Jaden McDaniels unfazed by boos from Nuggets fans: \u2018They can\u2019t get in my head\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nuggets fans serenaded Jaden McDaniels with vitriol and boos in Game 5 at Ball Arena on Monday night.<\/p>\n

\u201cJa-den sucks! Ja-den sucks!\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201c(Expletive) McDaniels! (Expletive) McDaniels!\u201d<\/p>\n

The Timberwolves forward quickly has become the biggest sports villain in the Denver after his comments following Minnesota\u2019s Game 2 win in which he called every member of the Nuggets a \u201cbad defender.\u201d<\/p>\n

After backing up the talk in Games 3 and 4, McDaniels\u2019 individual performance in a 125-113 win for the Nuggets in Game 5 was representative of his team\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\"\"Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valanciunas (17) has a few words for Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) in the fourth quarter of game 5 of round 1 of the NBA playoffs at Ball Arena on Monday, April 27, 2026. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)<\/p>\n

The 25-year-old from the Seattle area scored just 13 points on 11 shots, contributed four of the Wolves\u2019 25 turnovers and picked up five fouls while being limited to 27 minutes. His performance was not a result of the constant boos and jeers from the crowd, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was cool. It ain\u2019t affect me at all,\u201d McDaniels said. \u201cI\u2019ve been in foul trouble early in games before. I hear the crowd. None of it affects me. It just brings the energy and juice out of me.\u201d<\/p>\n

McDaniels knew what was coming. He\u2019s said previously in the postseason he enjoys playing on the road and sending the home fans home unhappy \u2014 like the Timberwolves did in a Game 7 against the Nuggets two years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like it,\u201d McDaniels said. \u201cYou see I\u2019m probably shaking my head the whole time they\u2019re booing me. I\u2019m laughing. They can\u2019t get in my head. I already expect it to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

It also helped McDaniels had a veteran in Mike Conley in his ear when he was on the bench, reminding him that it won\u2019t be like this back home for Game 6.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs much hate as you\u2019re getting tonight, there\u2019s gonna be about 100 times more love for you when you go back to Minnesota. Just know that,\u201d Conley said he told McDaniels. \u201cHe\u2019s a good man. He really just does whatever it takes to win. He\u2019s got a great mindset. I know he\u2019s gonna be ready to go when we get home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"From left, Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels, guard Mike Conley and forward Julius Randle sit on the bench as time runs out in the second half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Denver Nuggets Monday, April 27, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)<\/p>\n

Even with a rough Game 5, McDaniels is averaging career-bests in points, rebounds and assists in the playoffs. His role will be elevated for the duration of this series, given the injury to Anthony Edwards that likely sidelines Edwards for a few weeks. The offensive struggles aren\u2019t anything that takes a sizable adjustment on his or his team\u2019s part, he believes.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust silly turnovers,\u201d McDaniels said. \u201cSome (from) myself, throwing the ball to the other team. Just playing too fast. It\u2019s on me. I gotta be better, not fouling early in the game and taking care of the ball. Four turnovers, I usually don\u2019t do that.<\/p>\n

\u201c(If) we cut down 10 of them turnovers, I think we come out with a win. It\u2019s just (about) being smarter and playing the smarter brand of basketball that won us the three games already.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s McDaniels\u2019 focus \u2014 securing a Game 6 win and moving on to the second round. If that happens, the last laugh is his.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just gotta get the job done the next game and then there\u2019s no more talking,\u201d McDaniels said.<\/p>\n


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