On Sunday, the Minnesota Timberwolves lost to the New York Knicks 103-99 and fell to a league-worst record of 7-24. Shortly after the game, the team announced that they had fired head coach Ryan Saunders. On Monday, the Wolves already had their new coach in place as they officially inducted Chris Finch as Saunders’ replacement.
“I would like to thank Glen Taylor and Gersson Rosas for this incredible opportunity to be the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves,” said Finch, in the announcement. “I look forward to working hand and hand with Gersson to build and lead a team that Timberwolves fans will be proud of. We have excellent pieces in place and I can’t wait to get to work.”
The Athletic’s Shams Charania also reported that Finch will join the Timberwolves as their full-time coach and not on an interim basis.
34-year-old Saunders was in his third season coaching Minnesota. He compiled a 43-93 record (.316) in more than two seasons with the Timberwolves, who are off to a league-worst 7-24 start this season.
51-year-old Finch joined the Raptors staff in November after assistant Nate Bjorken left for the Indiana Pacers. Since 2011, he has been an assistant coach with the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and New Orleans Pelicans, before joining Toronto.
“Chris brings a wealth of basketball experience from his time in the NBA, G League and Internationally,” said Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas. “He is one of the most creative basketball minds in the NBA, has success maximizing players, and I am excited to see him bring our team to the next level and beyond.”
