Like the remainder of the Minnesota Timberwolves and their fanbase, Jaden McDaniels was annoyed by the state of the sport on Thursday night time.
Along with his group trailing the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, McDaniels made an impulsive resolution that value his Timberwolves.
Following the sport, he talked to the press about why he determined to shove Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and earn himself a flagrant foul.
“I simply wished to foul him for actual. I wasn’t even mad, I simply had fouls to make use of,” McDaniels stated, through Oh No He Didn’t and Hoop Central.
“I simply wished to foul him for actual. I wasn’t even mad I simply had fouls to make use of.”
— Jaden McDaniels on shoving Shai.
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) Could 23, 2025
With a bit greater than six minutes to go within the fourth quarter, the Timberwolves had been down by so much towards the Thunder, and it regarded like victory was slipping out of attain.
As Gilgeous-Alexander made his manner up the courtroom with the ball, McDaniels guarded after which trailed him.
When he bought behind the reigning MVP, he shoved him within the again.
It wasn’t too onerous of a shove, nevertheless it was sufficient to knock Gilgeous-Alexander down and get the eye of the refs, who instantly blew the whistle and cited McDaniels for a flagrant.
It feels like McDaniels has no regrets about his actions and did it not as a result of he was mad however as a result of he merely had a foul to offer.
Was {that a} sensible thought, particularly because it added to his group’s deficit?
Followers will debate the knowledge of McDaniel’s foul, however his frustration is comprehensible.
Minnesota wished to stroll away with a rebounding victory in Sport 2, wishing to ship a message that they’ll sustain with the very best group within the West.
As an alternative, they bought trounced and now sit in a 2-0 gap.