Who Is Naz Reid? Exploring the Career of the 24YO Timberwolves Star Amid Massive NBA Nomination

Nazreon “Naz” Hilton Reid, also called “Nazy” in New Jersey, has been the power man for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2023-2024 season. In his breakout season, he is emerging to be the legitimate title contender for the Sixth Man of the Year Award. The Center of the Wolves went undrafted in 2019, but then, on July 5th of that year, he signed a 2-way contract with Minnesota’s G League team, Iowa Timberwolves, under the condition that he would be splitting his time between the NBA and the G League teams.

Hence began his journey.

In his formative years, he was living with his mother, grandmother, and 2 sisters in Asbury Park. He grew up playing football with his father, as he coached him, along with basketball. Later, he attended high school as a budding basketball player at the Roselle Catholic School. His coach at the time, lived near his house and used to drive him to the school for practice every morning. Probably how his interest in basketball grew, leading us to today when the 24-year-old is making headlines and going under the radar to be the next big thing in the NBA.

Born on August 26, 1999, Naz showed flashes of brilliance from the beginning, Reid showed flashes of brilliance, which made him a five-star recruit. In his senior year with Roselle, Reid averaged 14.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. Such consistent performances earned him an invitation to the 2018 McDonald’s All-American Game. Following a stellar high school career, Naz Reid decided to represent LSU in his collegiate career. And after just one season of playing with the LSU, he decided to declare for drafts in 2019.

Now, considering his promising performance with the T-Wolves and the Iowa Wolves, the Timberwolves decided to let him debut in his first official NBA game, against the OKC Thunder on December 8, 2019. Since then, Naz Reid hasn’t looked back. He has established himself as a vital cog in the T-Wolves machinery, regularly notching more than 60 regular-season appearances. However, Reid has taken his game to another level this season, and he’s on the brink of achieving something historic.

Could Naz Reid become the Sixth Man of the Year?

Since his debut, Minnesota knew that Naz Reid would be a valuable player going into the future. Hence, they offered him a three-year contract extension worth $42 million during the summer of 2023. And in just under a year, his contract transformed into one of the most team-friendly deals in the league. After all, he played a key role in Minnesota’s 3rd-seeded finish in a fiercely competitive Western Conference.

His adaptability is what sets him apart, probably why he is on the path to becoming the sixth man in Chris Finch’s rotation. This season, he has emerged as one of the most effective players off the bench, averaging 13.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 81 games. His form, along with his impressive regular season stat line, makes him the frontrunner for the award!

If Naz Reid manages to win the 6th Man of the Year award, he would not only be the first Timberwolves player to do so but also just the third undrafted player in history to achieve this feat.