I’m not typically one to celebrate “Thanksgiving” in the traditional sense.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m more than happy to enjoy time off from work and be around loved ones. However, I prefer to acknowledge
the “checkered history” (generously speaking) and real origins of Thanksgiving. It’s a part of America’s very real history. That said, there’s nothing wrong with talking about the theme of…
Gratitude.
Using a day to contemplate, reflect, and pay thanks to people and/or things is certainly a good! The gathering of those you value, chosen or not, is worth celebrating. I figured with the current state of Minnesota Timberwolves basketball, we as fans have a lot to be thankful for, despite what this last week has been. The product on the court. The product off the court. Most importantly, fans and readers like you who make it all happen.
I decided invite a “family gathering” of our favorite Wolves voices. From media members, to community members. I invited folks to the Timberwolves dining table. Before we dig back into the main course of Wolves basketball, let’s go around the table and share what we are grateful for.
(Note: Responses were collected in the week leading up to Thanksgiving)
The on-court thing I am most grateful to watch is…
Jim Peterson: Winning players who enjoy playing together.
Jon Krawczynski (The Athletic): Kyden Randle becoming a star. Seriously, this kid brings a smile to my face every time he’s on camera, which is getting more often these days. When he mimics Donte DiVincenzo’s 3-point celebration, it’s just about the best thing you can find on the internet. When he throws a lip curl in there for extra sauce? Perfection. In a long season, you need some personality, some comic relief. Julius’s oldest son is giving us all of that and I love every second of it. The closeness of the entire Randle family is so cool to see. Chicken soup for the soul.
Stop-N-Pop (Former Site Manager): It’s a toss up between Jaden McDaniels finally rounding into a solid two-way player with a decent offensive game, and just watching anything that Jaylen Clark does on the court. Now that Nickeil Alexander-Walker is gone, Clark is far and away the most fun guy to watch off the ball on both ends of the court. Jaden has cracked my Wolves Mount Rushmore with KG, Ricky, and Bassy. He often seems like the only guy on the squad who has the right mindset.
John Meyer (Former Site Manager): Ant’s blend of ferocious dunks, deceleration steps, and step-back 3s are a thing of beauty, but the evolution of Jaden McDaniels’ offensive game is what I’m most grateful for right now. His career true shooting percentage is 57.6%. It’s currently at 62.8% through 16 games.
Eric in Madison (Former Site Manager): Rudy Gobert defending the rim.
Kyle Theige (Former Site Manager): The on-court thing I am grateful for is *drum roll* the Jaden McDaniels leap. We knew this level of offensive production was inside him somewhere, but we also had seen enough games to start to question if that was ever going to translate to on the court. Is it sustainable? That probably remains to be seen. But I think emphasizing transition while also getting him off ball more will allow him to pick his spots offensively, and if he can become a consistent third banana alongside Ant and Julius, the offensive ceiling for this team becomes rather limitless.
Dane Moore (The Dane Moore NBA Podcast): Julius Randle playing at an All Star level. I really enjoy watching players become a level of player I didn’t assume they would reach. Those things usually teach you something. And I think I’ve learned a lot about the value of Randle’s style specifically.
Jack Borman (Locked On Wolves – Former Site Manager): Jaden McDaniels finally taking the offensive leap we all believed he was capable of and flourishing alongside Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle as a three-level scorer.
Jace Frederick (St. Paul Pioneer Press): A competitive basketball team! Covering a bad/tanking team can be part of the job – and there are occasional fun aspects of that, as well – but my goodness, can that get old fast.
Chris Hine (The Minnesota Star Tribune): Jaylen Clark’s hustle is always surprising in just how effective he can be affecting playing you might not think he can.
This Wolves team is grateful to have…
Jim Peterson: The best coaching staff, medical/training personnel and front office dynamic in team history.
Jon Krawczynski: Jaylen Clark, waiting in the wings. The loss of Nickeil Alexander-Walker was a real blow, not just for his considerable contributions on the court, but for his presence in the locker room as well. On a team full of quiet, contemplative dudes, NAW was a spokesman, a thinker, an empath. He brought the team together. In steps Clark, who not only is fast becoming one of the better perimeter defenders around, but also has a big voice and an infectious laugh that contributes to the dynamic in the locker room. He is not bashful, and that’s what this team needs, both physically as a player and spiritually as a teammate.
Stop-N-Pop: Ant. The new CBA has kind of put everyone but the Thunder in a bind so it’s going to be hard to trade their way out of their current situation (no real point guard or backup center, relying on Rudy for the defense, inexplicably using two future firsts to draft a guy who isn’t big enough to play in the NBA, etc.), but it was always going to come down to how good Ant can become in any timeline. I still think he’s a year or two away from really hitting his peak. Him and Jaden are quite the pairing. Hopefully, Tim Connelly can surround them with solid guys once Rudy and Julius age out.
John Meyer: As Julius Randle said, the Wolves are playing agenda-free basketball. It’s team over individual, and that unselfish approach is something I’m thankful for.
Eric in Madison: Terrific broadcast voices and tremendous writers/podcasters covering the team.
Kyle Theige: This Wolves team is grateful to have such an elite broadcasting team. Jim, Grady, Alan, Marney, Lea B., Rebekkah — so on and so on. As a lifelong fan, it’s obviously great to have an enhanced product on the court, but it wouldn’t be nearly as impactful (in my opinion) without those talented individuals calling the name and breaking down things pre and post game.
Dane Moore: Ant. Even through the rocky times of the last week, the presence of Ant opens up possibilities for this team now and in the future that so few teams ever get. This team/organization should be thankful for that because it’s rare.
Jack Borman: A legitimate superstar in Ant and a cast of extremely easy-to-root-for players that appear to genuinely support each other on and off the court, and seemingly love living in and playing for a community we all love.
Jace Frederick: A top 5-10 player in the NBA in Anthony Edwards. You can achieve solid team success without a guy like Ant, but those players are near requirements to even be able to dream of ultimate goals, and they aren’t easy to come by.
Chris Hine: A young core of players in Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid that can be the basis for a lot of success moving forward.
I am grateful for covering and being part of the Wolves community because…
Jim Peterson: I get to call games with my friends Michael Grady and Alan Horton, and our entire FanDuel family. The best part of my day is when we sit down to entertain Timberwolves fans around the world.
Jon Krawczynski: I get to write for the best audience in the league. This is going to sound like pandering, but it absolutely is not. Wolves fans have been through the ringer with this organization, but their loyalty and passion has never wavered. I write for an outlet that demands building an audience, and from the moment I moved to The Athletic, Wolves fans have supported and consumed my work to an overwhelming degree. They are highly intelligent, well-read and crave great stories about their favorite team. Yes, some can be impatient. Sure, the scars of decades of Minnesota men’s sports futility can contribute to a cynicism that is tough to stomach sometimes. But there is no question they love the Wolves and they show their appreciation for the work I put into covering this team. This is home, and we’re all tied together in this thing. They’re the reason I’m still here doing this in Season 22. I can’t imagine writing for any other fan base.
Stop-N-Pop: Their dedication to the bit never waivers. Whatever that bit is… well, that can be annoying as shit, but never let it be said that Wolves fans aren’t dedicated to it.
John Meyer: There are so many unique, smart, funny, and genuinely great people from all kinds of backgrounds, all sharing the same dream: seeing a banner hanging in the rafters someday.
Eric in Madison: I used to write about this sometimes, but it’s the relationships. Without getting too deep into it, I needed that outlet for my mental health at the time, and having a way to commune with other people was a lifeline for me. I’ll never stop being grateful for it.
Kyle Theige: I am grateful for covering the Wolves because (ear muffs Kings fans) I no longer can stomach watching/covering a dumpster fire/rebuilding franchise. Obviously, Ant is at the top of the list when it comes to crediting people for this turnaround, but as we learn observing other franchises, it also takes elite coaching, a smart front office, and strong leadership behind the scenes (aka ownership) to really and truly turn the culture around. I started covering the team a decade ago and would get sad once the new year came on the calendar because that typically meant it was time to start chasing ping pong balls. Now, I have to pace myself in January and February because I’ve got to hoard PTO for the next inevitable Western Conference Finals run.
Dane Moore: It’s a real gift to be able to have my work be something that interests me every day. I try not to take that for granted. I’ve also met some of my closest friends through this job. People I would have never met otherwise. I’m grateful for that this Thanksgiving as well.
Jack Borman: It’s enabled me to make so many fulfilling connections with truly wonderful people, chase dreams I never knew I had, and help other basketball-crazed, aspiring writers and podcasters do the same!
Jace Frederick: The people rock. And I mean that at every level of my day-to-day work. The fans are smart and engaging. The players, coaches and front office members are thoughtful and respectful. The other media members are some of my very good friends. It’s all a reporter could ask for.
Chris Hine: The fans are so passionate and consume our content, win or lose.
Now dig in! Enjoy watching some sports, finding creative ways to hide from your least favorite family members, and eating more than enough food to put you into hibernation.
Or just stay on your devices and share with us what you’re grateful for in the comments section.
