Denver Nuggets coach David Adelman had some fun with comments made by Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels following Game 2 of their Western Conference first round series.
McDaniels said after Minnesota’s 119-114 win that the strategy facing the Nuggets was to “go after” them because the entire team was made up of “bad defenders.” Naturally, those words made it back to the Nuggets’ locker room.
Adelman was asked to comment on McDaniels’ claims on Wednesday, and he seemed to find the whole back-and-forth to be amusing.
“I can’t wait for his podcast,” Adelman said. “What’s our defensive rating in this series through two games? 109. Sixth-best in the playoffs. Okay.
“He’s a really good player. Everybody has a sounding board nowadays. It’ll help his social media.”
Nuggets coach David Adelman on Jaden McDaniels calling the Nuggets defenders out by name
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 22, 2026
“I can’t wait for his podcast.”
“It’ll help his social media.”
“What’s our defensive rating in this series?”
109
“How is that?”
Sixth best in the playoffs
“Ok. Next.” pic.twitter.com/Kr6gKTbbWf
Essentially, Adelman is suggesting that McDaniels just wants attention. If that is the case, McDaniels got what he wanted, but Adelman does not intend to give his remarks any further oxygen.
McDaniels has demonstrated in the series that, for better or worse, he wants the smoke. The Nuggets probably don’t need any additional motivation, but the remarks may provide them some extra focus for Game 3 of a tied series.
