Last Updated on July 20, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Naz Reid has emerged as one of the NBA’s most skilled stretch big men, blending three-point shooting, shot creation, and interior scoring for the Minnesota Timberwolves in a versatile sixth-man role. His modern center archetype, floor-spacing ability, underrated playmaking, and offensive versatility allow him to thrive alongside multiple frontcourt combinations in today’s NBA.

Here’s the detailed information on Nazreon Reid:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Nazreon Hilton Reid
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born on August 26, 1999
  • Hometown: Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA
  • Height: 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
  • Weight: 264 lbs (120 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m)
  • Shoe Size: Not widely reported
  • Jersey Number: #11
  • Position: Center / Power Forward
  • High School: Roselle Catholic High School (Roselle, New Jersey)
  • College: Louisiana State University (LSU) (2018–2019)
  • NBA Draft: Undrafted in 2019 (signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves)
  • Teams Played For:
    • Minnesota Timberwolves (2019–present)
  • Championship Rings: None as of 2024
  • Other Achievements:
    • Developed into a reliable scorer and defender for the Timberwolves
    • Known for his versatility and ability to stretch the floor as a big man
  • Kids: None reported
  • Siblings: Specific information about siblings is not widely reported.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Nazreon Reid’s player archetype is that of a modern stretch big: a skilled scoring frontcourt player who can space the floor, punish mismatches, and add more offensive versatility than a traditional backup center. Defensively, he fits best as a physical team defender and secondary rim protector who uses his size and strength to battle inside, while offensively his role is built around floor spacing, face-up scoring, pick-and-pop shooting, interior finishing, and occasional straight-line creation when bigger defenders are pulled away from the basket. Physically, Reid brings a strong 6-foot-9, 264-pound frame with enough mobility and coordination to play as a center-forward, and his overall play style blends power, touch, perimeter confidence, and sneaky skill for a big man, making him an offense-tilting complementary scorer rather than a pure low-post bruiser. (NBA)

Scouting Report

Naz Reid is one of those bigs who forces defenses to rethink the matchups they want because he doesn’t fit neatly into a traditional frontcourt role. The interesting thing is how naturally he shifts between playing like a perimeter scorer and a bruising interior finisher within the same possession. He’ll trail into a transition three, attack a hard closeout with a surprisingly fluid handle for his size, or set a ball screen before popping into open space where his shooting stretches the floor well beyond the paint. When defenders switch smaller players onto him, he’s comfortable sealing deep or backing them down without rushing, and he’s a more willing passer than he often gets credit for, particularly when help rotates from the baseline. Defensively, his size allows him to contest around the rim and absorb contact in the post, but his value grows when he stays disciplined. He moves well enough to survive brief switches and can hedge or recover in pick-and-roll coverage, though quicker guards who repeatedly force him into space can expose some limitations laterally. The trade-off is that his offensive confidence occasionally encourages difficult jumpers or ambitious drives that interrupt the flow of an otherwise efficient possession. Even so, I’d rather rein that in than take away the aggression that makes him difficult to guard in the first place. To me, Reid fits best next to a frontcourt partner who can handle the heaviest interior defensive responsibilities, giving him freedom to exploit mismatches as a floor-spacing scorer, secondary creator and change-of-pace offensive weapon. That’s where his versatility actually becomes meaningful because it creates lineup flexibility instead of simply looking good on paper. His game has shades of Rasheed Wallace’s ability to pull opposing bigs away from the basket, while some of the face-up confidence and perimeter skill resemble a more controlled Michael Beasley in a center’s body.

Notes:

Fun Facts

  • Naz Reid was an American Football player as a kid and didn’t start playing basketball until he got to college. Naz Reid has always looked like a good athlete on the basketball court, but that explains some of the rawness in his game. All things considered, he has become a good shooter for a guy who didn’t grow up shooting the basketball. Throwing a football may have helped him learn how to shoot a basketball easier than it otherwise would have been.

Player Insights

Nazreon Reid (Naz Reid) is a fan favorite in Minnesota. The Timberwolves have relied heavily on him to be the backup power forward and center on a team that needs his depth because they have spent so much money elsewhere. I expect Anthony Edwards to become the top player in the NBA either this season or next and as long as they remain relatively healthy, the Timberwolves should be strong contenders for the foreseeable future. 11/29/2024

Sources:

NBA.com — Naz Reid | Center-Forward | Minnesota Timberwolves
Peachtree Hoops — 2019 NBA Draft scouting report: Naz Reid
The Ringer — How to Watch March Madness When All You Care About Is the NBA Draft
Sports Forecaster — Naz Reid Stats, Profile, Bio, Analysis and More | Minnesota Timberwolves