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The Minnesota Timberwolves have locked up the services of current head coach Chris Finch with a multi-year extension.
Finch was a highly-respected assistant coach with the Toronto Raptors when he was hired in February 2021, having earned his way onto NBA staffs after winning 2010 D-League Coach of the Year with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
In his first full season in charge, Finch turned the Timberwolves into the seventh-best offense in the NBA, built largely around the talent of All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns and the top overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft, Anthony Edwards.
Impressively, the Timberwolves also finished the regular season in the top half of the league in defensive efficiency as well, addressing concerns some had that it may be impossible to build a solid defense while Towns is playing center, which is the most important defensive position by far.
As well as Towns – Edwards and third ‘star’ D’Angelo Russell also have poor defensive reputations, so to counteract that, Finch made the move to start defensive specialists Patrick Beverley and Jarred Vanderbilt to balance things out.
Speaking to media after news of his extension, Finch said it was a move initiated by the franchise.
“They came to me,” he said. “I think that shows the type of energy and commitment in the building.
“Everything’s going in the right direction here. It’s a fun time to be a part of the Timberwolves.”
It was all positive from executive vice president of basketball operations Sachin Gupta, too.
“They’re not always easy decisions in this business, but this one was a very easy one,” he said.
“Coach has been a terrific partner for me, and the results on the floor are clear.”
After finishing seventh in the Western Conference with a 46-36 record, the Timberwolves will host the Los Angeles Clippers in the Play-In Tournament, with the winner earning the seventh seed and a series against the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the Playoffs.
If Minnesota lose against the Clippers, they will get another chance to earn the eighth seed, hosting the winner of the nine-versus-10 matchup between the New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs.
