Naz Reid Is Exploding on Google Trends: Inside His 2025 Breakout Season, Viral Highlights, and What’s Next for the Timberwolves

Fresh off being crowned the NBA’s 2023-24 Sixth Man of the Year, Minnesota Timberwolves big man Naz Reid is once again at center stage as the Western Conference Finals shift to Minneapolis for tonight’s pivotal Game 3 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Reid’s combination of floor-stretching offense, switchable defense, and infectious energy has emerged as one of the defining storylines of the postseason, and the Wolves will lean on their fan-favorite reserve to seize momentum in a series knotted 1-1. Why Game 3 hinges on Reid’s two-way punch Minnesota’s bench was outscored 42-24 in Game 1, a major reason the Wolves slipped to a 112-103 defeat. When Reid found his rhythm in Game 2—dropping 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting while helping neutralize OKC’s pick-and-roll attack—the Wolves flipped the script and evened the series. Head coach Chris Finch has hinted at giving Reid earlier second-quarter minutes to counter the Thunder’s small-ball lineups, a move that could amplify Minnesota’s size advantage without sacrificing floor spacing. Key matchup: Reid vs. Chet Holmgren At 6-11 and 264 lbs, Reid can bully slender Thunder center Chet Holmgren on the glass, yet his 39 percent clip from beyond the arc forces Holmgren to defend out to the perimeter. Expect Minnesota to run early drag screens that free Reid for pick-and-pop triples—shots that ignite Target Center and open driving lanes for Anthony Edwards. If Reid draws Holmgren into foul trouble, OKC’s rim protection disappears and Minnesota’s offensive efficiency skyrockets. Prop-bet watch Sportsbooks have taken notice; Reid’s over/under for made threes has inched from 1.5 to 2.0, while his points line sits at 14.5 after consecutive double-digit outings. Bettors riding Reid’s hot streak have cashed five of the past six playoff games. Long-term buzz: free agency clouds loom Reid signed a three-year, $42 million extension last summer, but the final season is a player option, making the 25-year-old a possible prize in the 2026 free-agency class. Charlotte, Houston, and Detroit have already been linked as potential suitors should Minnesota’s looming luxury-tax crunch force a cost-cutting trade. For now, the Wolves front office is focused on the franchise’s first conference-final berth since 2004, but Reid’s postseason surge is inflating his future market value by the game. What’s next Tip-off for Game 3 is 8:30 p.m. ET. If Reid replicates his Game-2 heroics in front of a raucous home crowd, the “Nazzty” chants reverberating through Target Center could propel Minnesota to within two victories of the NBA Finals—and push the undrafted star’s national profile to yet another level.