Chris Finch

For the New Zealand cricketer, seeChristopher Finch.

Chris Finch

Finch in 2023
Minnesota Timberwolves
Position	Head coach
League	NBA
Personal information
Born	(1969-11-06)November 6, 1969 Cambridge, Ohio,U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Career information
High school	Wilson(West Lawn, Pennsylvania)
College	Franklin & Marshall(1988–1992)
NBA draft	1992:undrafted
Playing career	1993–1997
Position	Shooting guard/small forward
Coaching career	1997–present
Career history
As player:
1993–1997	Sheffield Forgers / Sharks
As coach:
1997–2003	Sheffield Sharks
2003–2004	Giessen 46ers
2004–2007	Euphony Bree
2007–2009	Dexia Mons-Hainaut
2009–2011	Rio Grande Valley Vipers
2011–2016	Houston Rockets(assistant)
2016–2017	Denver Nuggets(associate HC)
2017–2020	New Orleans Pelicans(associate HC)
2020–2021	Toronto Raptors(assistant)
2021–present	Minnesota Timberwolves
Career highlights and awards
NBA All-Star Game head coach(2024) NBA D-League Coach of the Year(2010) NBA D-League champion(2010) Belgian Leaguechampion (2005) 2×British League Cupchampion (1999, 2000) British League Trophywinner (1998)

Chris Finch(born November 6, 1969)is an American professionalbasketballcoach and former player who is the head coach of theMinnesota Timberwolvesof theNational Basketball Association( NBA ).He was previously an assistant coach for theHouston Rockets,Denver Nuggets,New Orleans Pelicans,andToronto Raptors.

Playing career

College

Finch is a 1992 graduate ofFranklin & Marshall College,where he was anNCAA Division IIIAll-American in 1991 and 1992.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 toWisconsin–Platteville.Finch ranks among the school's all-time leaders in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals.

Professional

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

Coaching career

Sheffield Sharks

Finch started his head coaching career inEngland,with theSheffield Sharksof theBritish 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 the1998–99 season,he was named theBBL Coach of the Year.

Gießen 46ers

Finch then moved to Germany, where he was the head coach of theGiessen 46ersin the GermanBasketball Bundesliga.The team had a 4–13 record and was on the verge ofrelegation,and Finch was fired.

Euphony Bree

Finch moved to Belgium, where he was the head coach ofEuphony Bree.He led Bree to its first and onlyBelgian Basketball Leaguechampionship in 2005.

Dexia Mons-Hainaut

In 2007, Finch moved to Euphony Bree's Belgian Basketball League rival,Dexia Mons-Hainaut,bringing several players with him and his assistant coachJohan Roijakkers.With Finch in charge, Dexia Mons-Hainaut reached the final of theEuroChallenge 2007–08,where it lost toBK Barons Rigaby one point.

Rio Grande Valley Vipers

In 2009, Finch became the head coach of theRio Grande Valley Vipersof theNBA 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 bothRenoandAustinin three games, and sweptTulsain the finals to earn the franchise'sfirst championship.Finch was named theD-League Coach of Year.

Houston Rockets

On July 14, 2011, theHouston Rocketshired Finch as an assistant coach.AfterKevin McHalewas fired in 2015 andJ. B. Bickerstaffreplaced him on an interim basis, Finch was named associate head coach.

Denver Nuggets

On September 14, 2016, theDenver Nuggetshired Finch as an assistant coach alongsideMichael Malone.

New Orleans Pelicans

On June 6, 2017, theNew Orleans Pelicanshired Finch as an assistant coach alongsideAlvin Gentry.On November 16, 2020, Finch was not retained by the Pelicans.

Toronto Raptors

On December 4, 2020, Finch was officially announced as a new member of the coaching staff for theToronto Raptors,where he served as assistant coach toNick Nurse,who had served under him at the2012 Summer Olympics.

Minnesota Timberwolves

On February 22, 2021, theMinnesota Timberwolvesnamed Finch the team's new head coach.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 for2021–22NBA Coach of the Year.On April 11, 2022, he signed a multi-year extension.On February 4, 2024, he was named the head coach of theWestern Conferenceat the2024 NBA All-Star Game.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' 2024first-roundseries victory over thePhoenix Suns,Finch suffered apatellar tendon ruptureafter Timberwolves guardMike Conley Jr.collided with him. Conley was fouled and forced into Finch by Phoenix Suns guardDevin Booker.Assistant coachMicah Noritook over as interim head coach for the remainder of the game.

Finch then led the Timberwolves to the largest Game 7 comeback in NBA history, overcoming a 20-point deficit to beat the reigning championDenver Nuggets.They went on to face theDallas Mavericksin the Western Conference finals.On June 24, 2024, he signed a multi-year extension.

Head coaching record

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 inNorthwest	—	—	—	—	Missed playoffs
Minnesota	2021–22	82	46	36	.561	3rd in Northwest	6	2	4	.333	Lost inFirst Round
Minnesota	2022–23	82	42	40	.512	2nd in Northwest	5	1	4	.200	Lost inFirst Round
Minnesota	2023–24	82	56	26	.683	3rd in Northwest	16	9	7	.563	Lost inConference Finals
Career		287	160	127	.557		27	12	15	.444

National team career

Finch also coached theGreat Britain men's national teamat theFIBAEuroBasket 2009,FIBA EuroBasket 2011,and the2012 Summer Olympics.He resigned after his team was eliminated from the Olympics to focus on his NBA coaching career.