Jaden McDaniels had a rough Wednesday morning. The Minnesota Timberwolves forward walked outside his Los Angeles home to find his 2022 Dodge Charger missing from his parking space.
McDaniels reported the vehicle stolen at an LAPD station. Law enforcement sources told NBC Los Angeles they do not believe the 25 year old was specifically targeted. No arrests have been made.
That is the most important detail. McDaniels was not the victim of a planned hit on an NBA player. He was the victim of bad luck and Los Angeles car theft, which has been a persistent problem in the city for years.
NBA players have been targeted in the past. Mike Conley had his Salt Lake City home burglarized. Bobby Portis lost jewelry in a Milwaukee home invasion. Luka Doncic’s Dallas home was hit during a road trip in 2024. The league has issued security guidance to every team about offseason vulnerability.
McDaniels’ situation appears different. A Dodge Charger is a desirable target for opportunistic theft because of how easy it is to defeat the older security systems. Whether the thief knew the car belonged to an NBA player or not, the Charger was probably going to get hit eventually.
The timing is awkward for the Timberwolves. Minnesota just completed the biggest trade of the offseason, acquiring LaMelo Ball from the Hornets. The team is going to be a Western Conference contender next season. The last thing the organization needs is concern about player safety in offseason markets.
McDaniels himself has been a quietly important piece for Minnesota. He averaged 12.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals last season. He is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league at his size. The Wolves’ switching defense relies on him being able to guard everyone from shooting guards to power forwards.
The car can be replaced. The bigger concern is whether McDaniels feels safe at his home, and whether other Timberwolves players are taking additional precautions in light of the news. The team will likely beef up security protocols and reach out to players spending time in larger cities this offseason.
For now, Jaden McDaniels is dealing with insurance paperwork and an empty driveway. He will work out, get healthy, and prepare for what should be the most important season of his career.
Anyone with information about the stolen vehicle has been asked to contact the LAPD. Most of these reports do not end with a recovery. McDaniels probably already knows that.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
