Naz Reid spent seven long seasons in Minnesota without ever getting the nod for an All-Star game. That changes now in Charlotte, where he has become the primary big man. The Hornets have positioned him for a leap the Timberwolves never allowed him to take. He is no longer a backup behind Karl-Anthony Towns or Rudy Gobert. He is the man.
Per Swarm and Sting, Reid was the immediate value piece in the blockbuster LaMelo Ball trade. This move clears the path for him to shine as the number one big in the rotation. He averaged 13.6 points and 6.2 rebounds in the 2025-26 season. Those numbers look even better when you project them to a full 36 minutes. The math shows 18.8 points and 8.6 rebounds. That is All-Star territory.
A Crowded Cage in Minnesota
The Timberwolves kept Reid on a tight leash for years. He played alongside Towns and Gobert between 2022 and 2024. Later, he worked with Gobert and Julius Randle. During that time, Gobert averaged no fewer than 30.7 minutes per game and both Randle and Towns played high-volume offensive roles. Reid had to fit his game around their strengths and weaknesses. He could not be the main option. He could not run the offense. He was always the sixth man.
Swarm and Sting noted that Reid won the Sixth Man of the Year award in 2023-24. That is a huge honor. But it also highlights the ceiling the Wolves put on him. He helped the team reach the Western Conference Finals twice. Yet he never got the chance to jump to the All-Star level. The system did not let him. The roster construction blocked him.
The Charlotte Opportunity
Now Reid has a clean shot at the starting lineup. He is finally the top big man for the Hornets. In the 2026-27 season, he gets an opportunity to reach his first career All-Star Game thanks to this shift. Charles Lee, the Hornets coach, recognized the difficulty the squad currently confronts. “Now he has to find that balance of scoring and passing, playing off the ball at times, too,” Lee said. The coach knows Reid has to do more than just score. He has to make the right play.
The stats from last year prove he can handle the load. He shot .456 from the field and .362 from deep. He also averaged 1.0 block and 1.0 steal. When you add 2.9 three-pointers made per 36 minutes, you see a modern big man. He can stretch the floor while protecting the rim. The Hornets need that specific skill set right now. They are building a young squad that needs a leader inside.
The Road to the All-Star Game
Reid does not have to share the court with two other elite bigs anymore. He does not have to wait for a specific moment to shine. He owns the paint. The path to the 2026-27 All-Star game is wide open. He has the stats to back up the claim. He has the role to prove it. The only thing left is to stay healthy and keep the ball moving.
Swarm and Sting reported that he will have a realistic opportunity to make the leap. That opportunity was denied for too long. The Hornets are betting on Reid to deliver. If he finds that balance Coach Lee talks about, the fans in Charlotte will be celebrating a new All-Star. The Wolves kept him in the shadows.