Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels is taking one last parting shot at the Denver Nuggets.
McDaniels appeared on “NBA Today” Friday, one day after the Timberwolves knocked Denver out of the playoffs with a 110-98 win in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Host Malika Andrews asked him about the budding rivalry between the two teams, but McDaniels said the Nuggets have to start beating them in order for it to be a rivalry.
“You can say it’s a rivalry. It’s up there now,” McDaniels said. “I don’t know if we can anymore after we beat them two, three times, but it’s cool.”
Jaden McDaniels on calling Nuggets-Wolves a rivalry 😅
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 1, 2026
Jaden: “I don’t know if we can anymore after we beat them 2-3 times.”
Malika: “You’re saying they can’t be in your class anymore because you guys have won the last 2 series?”
JM: “Basically.” pic.twitter.com/UnHvUYgpQ2
The Nuggets and Timberwolves have met in three of the last four playoffs. Denver won the first bout in 2023 en route to an NBA title, but the Timberwolves have won each of the last two series.
McDaniels appears to delight in taunting the Nuggets, as he caused a stir with some comments he made during the series as well. He might as well lean into it while he has reason, especially since his team was quite shorthanded and overcame Denver anyway.
McDaniels can also say he backed up his talk. He poured in 32 points and collected 10 rebounds in Thursday’s series clincher.
