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Chris Finch

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For the New Zealand cricketer, see Christopher Finch.

Chris Finch
Finch in 2023
Minnesota Timberwolves
PositionHead coach
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1969-11-06) November 6, 1969 (age 54)
Cambridge, Ohio, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Career information
High schoolWilson (West Lawn, Pennsylvania)
CollegeFranklin & Marshall (1988–1992)
NBA draft1992: undrafted
Playing career1993–1997
PositionShooting guard / small forward
Coaching career1997–present
Career history
As player:
1993–1997Sheffield Forgers / Sharks
As coach:
1997–2003Sheffield Sharks
2003–2004Giessen 46ers
2004–2007Euphony Bree
2007–2009Dexia Mons-Hainaut
2009–2011Rio Grande Valley Vipers
2011–2016Houston Rockets (assistant)
2016–2017Denver Nuggets (associate HC)
2017–2020New Orleans Pelicans (associate HC)
2020–2021Toronto Raptors (assistant)
2021–presentMinnesota Timberwolves
Career highlights and awards

Chris Finch (born November 6, 1969)[1] is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA).[2] He was previously an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Pelicans, and Toronto Raptors.[3]

Playing career

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College

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Finch is a 1992 graduate of Franklin & Marshall College, where he was an NCAA Division III All-American in 1991 and 1992.[4] In 1991, as one of the best defenders in the nation's third division, he helped lead F&M to the NCAA Division III championship game, which it lost to Wisconsin–Platteville. Finch ranks among the school's all-time leaders in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals.[5]

Professional

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Finch began his playing career in England with the Sheffield Forgers of the then-second tier of British basketball, the National Basketball League. Before the 1994–95 season, Finch and Sheffield moved into the first tier of British basketball, the British Basketball League, as the renamed Sheffield Sharks.

Coaching career

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Sheffield Sharks

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Finch started his head coaching career in England, with the Sheffield Sharks of the British Basketball League, the same team he had played on during his pro career. He led them to several titles, making the franchise the most successful in league history. After winning the regular season title with Sheffield in the 1998–99 season, he was named the BBL Coach of the Year.[1]

Gießen 46ers

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Finch then moved to Germany, where he was the head coach of the Giessen 46ers in the German Basketball Bundesliga. The team had a 4–13 record and was on the verge of relegation, and Finch was fired.

Euphony Bree

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Finch moved to Belgium, where he was the head coach of Euphony Bree. He led Bree to its first and only Belgian Basketball League championship in 2005.[6]

Dexia Mons-Hainaut

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In 2007, Finch moved to Euphony Bree's Belgian Basketball League rival, Dexia Mons-Hainaut, bringing several players with him and his assistant coach Johan Roijakkers. With Finch in charge, Dexia Mons-Hainaut reached the final of the EuroChallenge 2007–08, where it lost to BK Barons Riga by one point.[7]

Rio Grande Valley Vipers

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In 2009, Finch became the head coach of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA D-League. Under Finch, the Vipers went 34–16, finishing first in the Western Conference, and earned the franchise's first playoff berth. In the playoffs, the Vipers beat both Reno and Austin in three games, and swept Tulsa in the finals to earn the franchise's first championship. Finch was named the D-League Coach of Year.[8]

Houston Rockets

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On July 14, 2011, the Houston Rockets hired Finch as an assistant coach.[9] After Kevin McHale was fired in 2015 and J. B. Bickerstaff replaced him on an interim basis, Finch was named associate head coach.[10]

Denver Nuggets

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On September 14, 2016, the Denver Nuggets hired Finch as an assistant coach alongside Michael Malone.[11]

New Orleans Pelicans

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On June 6, 2017, the New Orleans Pelicans hired Finch as an assistant coach alongside Alvin Gentry.[12] On November 16, 2020, Finch was not retained by the Pelicans.[13]

Toronto Raptors

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On December 4, 2020, Finch was officially announced as a new member of the coaching staff for the Toronto Raptors, where he served as assistant coach to Nick Nurse, who had served under him at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[14]

Minnesota Timberwolves

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On February 22, 2021, the Minnesota Timberwolves named Finch the team's new head coach.[15][16] In his first full season, he led the Timberwolves to a 46–36 finish and their first playoff berth since 2018. He received four 3rd-place votes for 2021–22 NBA Coach of the Year.[17] On April 11, 2022, he signed a multi-year extension.[18] On February 4, 2024, he was named the head coach of the Western Conference at the 2024 NBA All-Star Game.[19] On April 21, 2024, Finch was named a top three finalist for NBA Coach of the Year.

With 1:41 remaining in Game 4 of the Timberwolves' 2024 first-round series victory over the Phoenix Suns, Finch suffered a patellar tendon rupture after Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr. collided with him. Conley was fouled and forced into Finch by Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker. Assistant coach Micah Nori took over as interim head coach for the remainder of the game.[20]

Finch then led the Timberwolves to the largest Game 7 comeback in NBA history, overcoming a 20-point deficit to beat the reigning champion Denver Nuggets. They went on to face the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference finals.[21] On June 24, 2024, he signed a multi-year extension.[22]

Head coaching record

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Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %
Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
Minnesota 2020–21 41 16 25 .390 4th in Northwest — — — — Missed playoffs
Minnesota 2021–22 82 46 36 .561 3rd in Northwest 6 2 4 .333 Lost in First Round
Minnesota 2022–23 82 42 40 .512 2nd in Northwest 5 1 4 .200 Lost in First Round
Minnesota 2023–24 82 56 26 .683 3rd in Northwest 16 9 7 .563 Lost in Conference Finals
Career 287 160 127 .557   27 12 15 .444  

National team career

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Finch also coached the Great Britain men's national team at the FIBA EuroBasket 2009, FIBA EuroBasket 2011, and the 2012 Summer Olympics. He resigned after his team was eliminated from the Olympics to focus on his NBA coaching career.[23]

References

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  1. ^ a b Britball.com Chris Finch (Coach) Sheffield Sharks.
  2. ^ "Wolves hire Raptors' Chris Finch as new coach". NBA.com. February 22, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  3. ^ "NBA.com Vipers Tap Chris Finch as New Head Coach". NBA.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
  4. ^ Godiplomats.com F&M Basketball All-Americans.
  5. ^ Godiplomats.com Christopher Finch '92 Induction Year: 2002 Sport(s): Basketball.
  6. ^ "Finch Named Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year". NBA.com. Archived from the original on November 24, 2010. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
  7. ^ Monshainaut.be Club History. Archived October 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Great Britain's Chris Finch named coach of the year.
  9. ^ "Rockets add Sampson, Bickerstaff, Finch and Gunning to coaching staff". NBA.com. July 14, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
  10. ^ Suarez, Paul (November 18, 2015). "Rockets Relieve Kevin McHale of Head Coaching Duties". NBA.com. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  11. ^ "Meet the 2016-17 Nuggets Coaches". NBA.com. September 14, 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  12. ^ "Pelicans Add Chris Finch to Coaching Staff". NBA.com. June 6, 2017. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  13. ^ "Pelicans announce 2020–21 coaching staff". NBA.com. November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  14. ^ Lopez, J. (December 4, 2020). "Raptors Announce Coaching Staff Changes". NBA.com. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  15. ^ "Minnesota Timberwolves Name Chris Finch Head Coach". NBA.com. February 22, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  16. ^ Krawczynski, Jon; Charania, Shams (February 22, 2021). "Timberwolves fire Ryan Saunders, hire Raptors' Chris Finch as new coach". The Athletic. Also written by The Athletic staff. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  17. ^ "Monty Williams of Phoenix Suns wins 2021-22 Coach of the Year award". NBA.com. May 9, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  18. ^ Nardinger, Taylor (April 11, 2022). "Timberwolves Sign Head Coach Chris Finch to Multi-Year Contract Extension". NBA.com. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  19. ^ "Chris Finch to coach Western Conference in 2024 NBA All-Star Game". NBA.com. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  20. ^ "Timberwolves coach Chris Finch suffers ruptured patellar tendon after collision with Mike Conley". NBA.com. April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  21. ^ Gonzalez, Isabel. "Timberwolves vs. Nuggets: NBA world reacts to Minnesota's 20-point Game 7 comeback victory". CBS News. CBS Media. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  22. ^ "Timberwolves Sign Head Coach Chris Finch to Multi-Year Contract Extension". NBA.com. June 24, 2024. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  23. ^ "Olympics basketball: GB men's coach Chris Finch resigns". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
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