The Reigning Sixth Man of the Yr Covers SLAM 251

Two phrases. Naz Reid.

SLAM 251 that includes Naz Reid is out there now.

The title of the reigning Sixth Man of the Yr represents greater than only a title at this level. Naz Reid has turn out to be a greeting between Minnesota Timberwolves followers outdoors of dwelling video games. It’s became a constant stream of automobile horns outdoors of Parkway Pizza in Northeast Minneapolis with the now well-known “Honk If You Love Naz Reid” signal sitting proper outdoors. It’s reworked the seats of the Goal Heart right into a seashore day with Naz Reid towels in late March. It’s seen lots of of yard indicators plastered together with his face strewn about lawns throughout the larger Minneapolis space.

It’s the title of a Jeopardy contestant’s cat. It’s even turn out to be the primary tattoo for everybody from 18-year-olds children to 82-year-old grandmothers. Naz Reid has obtained a maintain on the Timberwolves fan base and the larger NBA group. There’s no rationalization, no broader particulars. That is the epitome of if you already know, you already know. And belief us, after this previous season, everybody and their momma, and their mommas, is aware of in regards to the rise of Naz Reid.

However at first, Naz didn’t suppose the ink was actual.

After the Timberwolves took down the Denver Nuggets by 26 factors in Sport 2 of the Western Convention Semifinals—that includes 14 factors, 5 boards, 4 blocks and 4 threes from the person himself—two lifelong Wolves followers and artists at Beloved Studios in Roseville, MN, set the stage for the group’s newest outpouring of admiration.

At 12:29 a.m. on Could seventh, tattoo artist JC Stroebel tweeted out, “Will tattoo ‘Naz Reid’ on anybody for $20. I’m lifeless critical.”

Lots of of requests adopted.

“It was loopy. I believe the 82-year-old woman was the primary individual that I noticed, after which the listing simply goes on, I believe 200-plus,” Naz tells SLAM. “It was as much as the purpose the place I used to be on the barbershop sooner or later and two children got here in [and] my title was their first tattoo. So, that was loopy to expertise. Positively tremendous thrilling. It’s one thing you clearly dream about as a child, to have that kind of fan base and that pleasure round your title is large.”

From the again of the tricep to the decrease thigh simply above the kneecap, that pleasure is on everlasting show in Occasions New Roman font. The sensation has been surreal, in Naz’s phrases.

His title has turn out to be celebrated amongst a small market fan base eager for a return to prominence. Sure, the Timberwolves have a bonafide famous person in Anthony Edwards, alongside All-Stars Karl-Anthony Cities and Rudy Gobert manning the paint. Nevertheless it’s the 6-9 versatile New Jersey native with the bag of a guard that has fully gained over the hearts and minds of Timberwolves followers. And it’s the rationale he’s on this very cowl.

Naz Reid is the unsung hero of Minnesota. His quiet confidence is on full show as quickly as he walks into the health club we’ve rented out in Las Vegas for his first SLAM cowl shoot. Summer season League video games are happening just some miles away, however Naz is suited in his midnight blue and white Timberwolves threads with contrasting “Reverse Grinch” Kobe 6s on his toes as we snap away flicks. He’s paying no thoughts to the record-setting 116-degree warmth that awaits simply outdoors. 

Reid is simply the third-ever undrafted participant to win the Sixth Man of the Yr award—becoming a member of John Starks and Darrell Armstrong—and the primary Timberwolves participant to take dwelling the dignity. His 13.5 factors, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per recreation on 41 p.c taking pictures from three weren’t only a bump throughout the board from years’ previous. The 2023-24 season served as his arrival as a full-fledged power within the L.

“That is the craziest I’ve ever seen it, particularly this previous season with how far we made it within the Western Convention Finals,” Naz says of the tradition in Minnesota. “It’s been loopy. We’ve posters in every single place, chalk on the bottom in every single place. It’s tremendous thrilling. Positively one thing that we’re trying ahead to for years to return.”

In case you have been to actually dive into why the Timberwolves fan base has such a deep-rooted love affair with the stoic 25-year-old, the overwhelming reply would most likely be the relatability of his journey. And undoubtedly the way in which he strikes with the rock.

It’s the opening spherical of the Western Convention playoffs and the Wolves are cruising with a 17-point lead over the Phoenix Suns. With 9:53 left within the fourth quarter, Naz snags a free ball and units out in transition. A duo of fast in-and-out dribbles comply with, retaining Eric Gordon from planting his again foot confidently. As Naz finishes the second transfer with the ball, he whips it large over his proper shoulder, excessive above Gordon’s head, right into a fluid professional hop. Time stops for a second, as he cradles it in his chest and Bradley Beal enters the scene to contest. Besides that is Massive Jelly we’re speaking about. With ease and a relaxing finesse, Naz pulls his momentum to the left facet of the basket and lays the ball onto the glass and thru the online with a clear right-handed reverse.

These routine shows of basketball artistry have despatched dwelling crowds right into a frenzy, however for these in Asbury Park, NJ, they’re harking back to the times Naz was cooking at Roselle Catholic and dropping spotlight after spotlight as an official member of the Jelly Fam.

“That’s simply my go-to. I’ve been doing that for a very long time, very long time,” Naz says of his transition excellence. “I believe Jersey guys are simply shiftier than a variety of different folks. We simply include a special kind of swag and recreation to any transfer that we put into play. That’s simply type of how we roll. You concentrate on all of the guards which were within the NBA or close to the NBA. You’ve obtained Kyrie Irving, Isaiah Briscoe, Kyle Anderson; you’ve obtained a variety of guys who’re shifty and transfer with a special kind of swag. I believe it’s simply type of how we roll and the place we come from.”

Trying again on the times when highschool phenoms have been stitching a brand new period into the cultural material of hoops, Naz now appreciates the influence being surrounded by guys like Jahvon Quinerly, Atiba Taylor and Luther Muhammad had on his recreation. “All the things has undoubtedly translated and brought off to what it was again then to the place it’s now,” Reid says.

Twenty-seven factors, 6 rebounds and seven threes towards Dallas in mid-December. A 31-piece and 11 boards whereas taking pictures 75 p.c from the sector in an early April dub vs. the Lakers. Twenty-three factors on 78 p.c taking pictures from three in Sport 2 of the Western Convention Finals.

From Roselle Catholic to Minneapolis, Naz has blended a guard-like fluidity and tempo with the dimensions and expertise of a stretch massive. He punishes smaller mismatches within the low submit with surgical footwork and hook pictures whereas dusting slower opponents on the elbow. He cashes in nook threes earlier than his defender even realizes he left the paint. And he thrives, completely thrives, in any place head coach Chris Finch places him in.

“We’ve had lineups this previous yr the place I used to be the three. We’ve had massive lineups, in order that’s one thing that I’ve been engaged on and persevering with to work on,” Naz says. “Time will inform, however I can most likely transition to a 3, 4 or 5 on this League. So, I’m simply going to maintain engaged on it and preserve increasing my position.”

In that position as first off the pine, Naz recorded essentially the most constant season of his profession in ’23-24. Fourteen 20-plus level performances within the common season behind a career-high taking pictures from deep. And his defensive instincts started to shine. With No. 11 on the ground, the Timberwolves recorded a League-best 107.9 defensive ranking. The notorious Sport 2 that spawned a litany of tattoos noticed Naz enact a defensive masterclass. Within the first half alone, he stuffed Jamal Murray twice, then rejected Nikola Jokic on a pair of pictures.

Forward of the ’23-24 season, Naz signed a three-year, $42 million extension with the Timberwolves. The deal was 5 years of tumultuous work within the making.

His illustrious rise from Jersey to LSU wasn’t met with the identical quantity of enthusiasm you might need anticipated when he set his sights on the NBA. After a lone season in Baton Rouge, the 6-9 ahead went undrafted in 2019.

His 13.6 factors and seven.2 rebounds throughout that season have been sufficient to obtain SEC All-Freshman crew honors, however the League wasn’t biting. Issues round his draft exercises and measurement have been highlighted.

“It simply made me extra hungry. It type of rose, type of modified to the place I used to be the hunted, now I’m searching at that time,” Naz tells SLAM. “In highschool, I used to be a high recruit, five-star, McDonald’s All American, issues like that, to the place now I needed to grind to be ready the place I needed to compete towards others who have been at excessive ranges, who have been drafted and issues of that nature. So [I was] placing myself in that perspective of simply searching.”

Over the previous 5 seasons, Naz has hunted for extra minutes, extra pictures, extra defensive assignments and extra duty. In each position he’s discovered himself in, he’s progressed. Dialing into the specifics issues—who he works out with, his each day routines, even what time he goes to sleep at evening—all of his habits are predisposed to how issues carry over into the subsequent season. Consistency in his position, in his development, “that’s simply the important thing to the sauce, to be trustworthy.”

Because of this, the celebrity, the outpouring of affection and the appreciation he’s obtained have reached one more peak. From influencing a complete era with how they lay the ball up as a 17-year-old to the cult following of his title within the League, Naz has been coping with the numerous waves of notoriety for years.

“I deal with it as second hand and no matter comes with me placing the work that I put in, I’m excited to have,” Naz says. “Clearly, I’m actually humbled to have all that. I believe as anybody ought to on the skilled stage, take that together with the bumps and bruises. Simply preserve being you and taking part in your recreation.”

Standing in entrance of a blue seamless backdrop that lets the aurora inexperienced piping of his shorts pop, Naz holds the notorious “Naz Reid” towel outstretched throughout his again. That March 22 night was his favourite from this previous season. As 18,000 devoted unfurled the towels all through the world, Naz dropped 18 factors en path to a 13-point win over the Cavaliers. “That second was a second the place I needed to actually take it in,” he says. “I haven’t actually defined how a lot I appreciated that second and the way a lot that actually made me really feel so far as excited and needed and liked.”

So we requested him to develop on that appreciation, to talk on to the followers. From Naz to the Timberwolves fan base, NAZ REID the cat and people who maintain his title in ink, that is his message:

“I respect each single certainly one of you guys. You guys have seen me are available and work since day one, for the reason that two-way signing to the place I’m now thus far,” Naz says. “I believe everyone is aware of how a lot work and dedication I put in and [the] aspirations that I put in to get to the place I’m now. It’s not going to cease now. That is solely the start.”

Portraits by Erik Isakson. Motion photographs through Getty Pictures.