Vitals
- Position: Small Forward · Height: 6-9 · Weight: 185
- Draft: 2020, Round 1, Pick 28 by the Los Angeles Lakers
- Experience: 6 seasons · Nationality: United States
- Contract: UFA-2029. The Lakers drafted McDaniels 28th overall in 2020 and traded him to Minnesota on draft night. He is under contract through 2029 before unrestricted free agency.
Stats
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.8 | 6.6 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 54.8 | 31.8 | 80.0 |
Per-game averages, 2026-27 season. Stats as of October 30, 2026. Sources: Basketball-Reference, cross-checked against ESPN.
Full career stats
| Season | Team | G | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | MIN | 63 | 6.8 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 44.7 | 36.4 | 60.0 |
| 2021-22 | MIN | 70 | 9.2 | 4.2 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 46.0 | 31.7 | 80.3 |
| 2022-23 | MIN | 79 | 12.1 | 3.9 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 51.7 | 39.8 | 73.6 |
| 2023-24 | MIN | 72 | 10.5 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 48.9 | 33.7 | 72.2 |
| 2024-25 | MIN | 82 | 12.2 | 5.7 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 47.7 | 33.0 | 81.3 |
| 2025-26 | MIN | 71 | 14.8 | 4.2 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 51.8 | 42.1 | 83.9 |
| 2026-27 | MIN | 5 | 15.8 | 6.6 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 54.8 | 31.8 | 80.0 |
| Career | 442 | 11.1 | 4.2 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 48.7 | 36.1 | 75.7 |
Before the NBA
| Season | School | G | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | WASHINGTON | 31 | 13.0 | 5.8 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 40.5 | 33.9 | 76.3 |
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Role
McDaniels is Minnesota's starting small forward and its best perimeter defender, regularly drawing the opponent's top wing scorer. His offense took another step in 2025-26 at 14.8 points a night on 52 percent shooting, and his 42 percent from three finally made him a two-way threat. He is the rare 6-9 wing who guards up and down the lineup.
How he got here
The Lakers drafted McDaniels 28th overall in 2020 and traded him to Minnesota on draft night. He is under contract through 2029 before unrestricted free agency.
The Sports Nus coverage
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Roster and contract details via RealGM, October 2026. Stats are per-game points, rebounds and assists.