Maybe it was just a coincidence that Naz Reid erupted in Chicago. Maybe the combination of the Bulls’ lackluster defense and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ embarrassment from a loss to the Brooklyn Nets over the weekend ensured that he would have the breakout game for which everyone has been waiting.

Or maybe, in this time of the year when belief hangs from the chimney and a glittering ball of hope prepares to descend from the sky in Times Square, it had to be this way, because the Timberwolves weren’t the only ones who needed it.

Reid delivered his best game of what has been an uneven season in a 136-101 victory over the Bulls — 33 points, six 3-pointers, seven rebounds and three assists — on Dec. 29. The date in a long NBA regular season is insignificant to most, but monumental to one Timberwolves mega-fan who has left his mark on this basketball community.

JC Stroebel is a tattoo artist who has played a huge role in Reid’s ascent to cult hero status in the Twin Cities. As the Timberwolves advanced to the Western Conference finals in 2024, their first time there in 20 years, Stroebel and his friend Jesse George joined the celebration by offering tattoos of Reid’s name for $20. By that time, Reid’s journey from undrafted rookie to Sixth Man of the Year had captivated the fan base, making him one of the most popular athletes in the Twin Cities. Stroebel saw it as a way to help fans express their devotion in an indelible way.

Will tattoo “Naz Reid” on anyone for $20

I’m dead serious

— Wolves Enjoyer (@john_chuck) May 7, 2024

Stroebel was drawn to Reid’s underdog story, and the promotion spread through the Wolves fanbase with remarkable speed. Stroebel and George tattooed Reid’s name on hundreds of fans throughout the run, and Stroebel has continued to make appearances at Wolves-centric events ever since, continuing the connection to the team and its people.

Now, it is Stroebel who needs the help. As Reid was getting buckets in Chicago, Stroebel was at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Earlier this month, doctors found a golf ball-sized tumor in his brain and scheduled surgery for Tuesday. The Timberwolves community has rallied around Stroebel, his wife, Annie, and their two young children. A GoFundMe page set up to help with expenses, hotel stays and recovery has already gathered $52,000 for the family.

“I must say thank you so incredibly much for all the kindness and generosity from this community,” Stroebel posted on X after the game. “I’m still speechless. I love you all so much.”

Reid, who has plenty of ink himself, is well aware of Stroebel and was taken aback by the popularity of his namesake tattoo. The Timberwolves know about Stroebel’s condition and have been in touch with the family. On Monday night, Reid did his best to boost Stroebel’s spirits as he prepared for major surgery.

The Timberwolves needed him, too. Reid’s scoring and shooting numbers have been down across the board, understandable after the shocking shooting death of his sister, Toraya, a month before training camp began. He has scored single-digit points in nine games this season, more than a quarter of the 33 the Wolves have played.

Over his previous six games, Reid had been shooting 25 percent from 3-point range and just 39 percent overall, a slump that put so much pressure on a Wolves bench that has been the most disappointing component of the season to date.

Terrence Shannon Jr. has been dealing with a foot issue for most of the season and has been a liability on the defensive end when he has played. Rob Dillingham is out of the rotation again, failing to earn coach Chris Finch’s confidence searching for the balance between finding his own shot and making plays for his teammates. Jaylen Clark has been a plus defensively, but is shooting 32 percent from 3-point range and 60 percent from the free-throw line. Mike Conley is giving very little in terms of offensive output.

The issues were laid bare in the dispiriting loss to the Nets on Saturday. A night when the starters were stuck in mud against a starless, but improving, opponent that was out-working the Wolves on both ends screamed for a big game from the reserves. But Reid managed just 13 points on 11 shots and committed four fouls, Bones Hyland took only two shots and the entire Wolves bench put up 33 points against Brooklyn.

There have been too many games like that one for the second unit this season. Before Monday’s game in Chicago, Reid had reached 20 points just once in the previous 17 games.

Last season, Reid had Donte DiVincenzo and Nickeil Alexander-Walker as veteran wingmen with the Wolves’ second unit, bringing shooting, defense and poise off the bench with him. This season, DiVincenzo has taken Conley’s spot in the starting lineup, and Alexander-Walker is in Atlanta on a big new contract.

The uncertainty behind Reid in the rotation has dropped the Wolves to 29th in the league in bench minutes this season. Their starting lineup has played more minutes than any five-man lineup in the NBA.

Once again, the Wolves got off to an ominous start in Chicago. The starters, who have struggled to set a tone early in games for much of the season, were lifeless against the 15-17 Bulls. Anthony Edwards took one shot in perhaps his most inactive quarter of the season. Julius Randle was scoreless. Jaden McDaniels got poked in the eye and had to leave the game. They needed a jolt.

They needed Naz Reid.

He came into the game midway through the first quarter and started getting buckets with a quickness. He hit two 3s and had an assist to get the Wolves offense going.

NAZ THREEID. 👌

8 PTS for Big Jelly so far. pic.twitter.com/VXkubJmx21

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) December 30, 2025

He became Sixth Man of the Year Naz again when the Timberwolves needed him most. His surge seemed to wake the team up and bought time for the starters to find their flow, just as the best bench players are supposed to do.

“We didn’t play to our standards and do what we do best (against Brooklyn), so there was kind of a salty taste in our mouths,” Reid told FanDuel Sports North after the game.

When Edwards returned for his second shift of the game midway through the second quarter, he looked like a different player. He scored 10 points and dished out three assists in six minutes. Randle joined the party as well, hitting 4 of 5 shots in the second quarter to give the Wolves a 55-50 lead at the break.

BACK-TO-BACK TRIPLES. 🎯

VOTE ANT » https://t.co/jWqGYsTbL5 pic.twitter.com/z9nrD70bId

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) December 30, 2025

Then everything started to click. Minnesota outscored Chicago 81-51 in the second half, with Reid putting up 23 points on 7-of-10 shooting. The Wolves won his 13 minutes on the floor by 27 points, the kind of rocket fuel they needed to bounce back from that Nets debacle.

“After the loss on Saturday, just bounce back and take a step in the right direction,” Reid said. “We had to show who we are and who we can be.”

Edwards scored 23 points, Randle had 17 points, 14 assists and zero turnovers, becoming the first player in the league this season to do that, and Hyland, who recently joined the Wolves rotation, gave Reid a second scorer off the bench with 12 points in 14 minutes.

“It’s huge. We’ve talked to Bones about being more aggressive,” Finch told reporters in Chicago. “We need him to be aggressive. We need him to look for himself, turn corners, go somewhere with the ball, draw a crowd, use his complete skill package.”

When the Wolves get scoring off the bench, from Reid, Hyland or anyone, it changes the entire dynamic of their offense. The ball moves more freely because Edwards and Randle don’t opt for as much isolation under the pressure to score. DiVincenzo gets cleaner looks from 3-point range. Rudy Gobert can crash the offensive glass for second-chance points.

The vibes are always higher when Reid is rolling. The Wolves (21-12) needed that as they start a four-game road trip. Stroebel needed that as he stared down a road that is much longer.

Getting brain surgery in the AM but before I sign off I just have to say one thing: Naz Reid

— Wolves Enjoyer (@john_chuck) December 30, 2025

Did one thing have anything to do with the other? Probably not. But wouldn’t it be great if it did?