Edwards is dissatisfied with Timberwolves teammate McDaniels losing the best defensive team

Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards criticized the All-Defensive Team judges after Jayden McDaniels was out.

The Minnesota Timberwolves returned to the series against the Oklahoma City Thunder after winning Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. Jaden McDaniels set the tone for the Timberwolves’ victory, especially on the defensive end. According to ESPN's Dave McMenaming, McDaniels played a crucial role in the defensive end that Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards criticized the best defensive judges.

After the Timberwolves won Game 3, Anthony Edwards talked about how the team’s reversal started on the offensive end and how Jaden McDaniels made it all.

"It all started with Jaden McDaniels," Edwards said. "He wasn't selected for the best defensive team, which was bad for those who had the right to vote. He once again proved to them tonight why he should be selected for the right to defend."

All defensive teams, teams one and two, were selected by a jury of 100 media members. McDaniels was not selected for any team. However, he won 10 second-place votes, while Timberwolves teammate Edwards won 3 second-place votes.

In the first three games of the Timberwolves' Western Conference Finals, McDaniels has been the main defender of Thunder star and 2024-25 MVP Shay Gilgers-Alexander. In Game 3, Gilgers Alexander made 4 of 13 shots and scored only 14 points.

This is not the first time McDaniels has been clearly missed in the All-Defensive voting. During the 2022-23 season, Timberwolves fans expressed their confusion on social media about McDaniels' failure to be selected for either team. He was selected for the All-Defensive Second Team in the 2023-24 season.

According to StatMuse data, McDaniels ranked second in defensive efficiency with the Timberwolves this season, second only to Rudy Gobert.

He played all 82 games this season, the first time in his career, averaging just over 31 minutes of playing time. During the Timberwolves' playoff journey, he averaged 14.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game, shooting as high as 53.9%, three-point shooting percentage as high as 38.6%, and free throw shooting percentage as high as 88.9%.

Timberwolves hope to equalize the score in Game 4, and McDaniels will continue to be the first choice for defense Gilgers Alexander.