Timberwolves extend Chris Finch’s contract
FILE - Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch watches the team play against the Washington Wizards during an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 5, 2022, in Minneapolis. The Wizards won 132-114. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
The Minnesota Timberwolves coaching staff is staying put.
Following a strong regular season for the team, the organization announced it has signed head coach Chris Finch to a multi-year contract extension. The rest of the coaching staff was also extended.
Sources told KSTP Sports that Finch’s extension is for three years, with an option for a fourth.
In his second season as the team’s head coach — and first full season — Finch led the Wolves to a 46-36 record, the seventh-best in the Western Conference, which puts the team in the play-in tournament with a shot to get into the playoffs.
Minnesota also led the NBA in points per game (115.9) for the first time in club history and paced the league in made three-pointers (1,211). The team also showed improvement defensively this season, leading the league in opponent turnovers per game (16.3) and points off opponent turnovers (19.8), and ranking tied for third in both blocks (5.6 per game) and steals (8.8 per game).
“I am thankful to Glen, Becky and the entire ownership group for their ongoing support and commitment,” Finch said in a statement. “It’s been a season that all of us, including our fans can be proud of and I’m grateful that my staff will continue to lead us forward.”
“Chris has done a tremendous job creating stability and consistency for this franchise and building a winning mentality,” the Timberwolves ownership group said. “We look forward to supporting him throughout the years while he continues achieving the goals he and his staff have set out for the team.”
The Timberwolves will play the Los Angeles Clippers at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in the first round of the play-in tournament. With a win, Minnesota would make the playoffs as the No. 7 seed and play the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round.
If the Wolves lose to the Clippers, Minnesota would play the winner of Wednesday night’s game — the San Antonio Spurs or the New Orleans Pelicans — for the No. 8 seed in the playoffs and a first-round matchup against the top-seeded Phoenix Suns.
Despite a strong season, the Timberwolves would miss the playoffs if they lost both play-in games.