Introduction
Chris Finch (born November 6, 1969) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was previously an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Pelicans, and Toronto Raptors.
Playing career
College
Finch is a 1992 graduate of Franklin & Marshall College, where he was an NCAA Division III All-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 to Wisconsin–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 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.
Coaching career
Sheffield Sharks
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.
Gießen 46ers
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
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.
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 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.
Rio Grande Valley Vipers
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.
Houston Rockets
On July 14, 2011, the Houston Rockets hired Finch as an assistant coach. After Kevin McHale was fired in 2015 and J. B. Bickerstaff replaced him on an interim basis, Finch was named associate head coach.
Denver Nuggets
On September 14, 2016, the Denver Nuggets hired Finch as an assistant coach alongside Mike Malone.
New Orleans Pelicans
On June 6, 2017, the New Orleans Pelicans hired Finch as an assistant coach alongside Alvin 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 the Toronto Raptors, where he served as assistant coach to Nick Nurse, who had served under him at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Minnesota Timberwolves
On February 22, 2021, the Minnesota Timberwolves named 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 for 2021–22 NBA 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 the Western Conference at the 2024 NBA All-Star Game. On April 21, 2024, Finch was named a top three finalist for NBA Coach of the Year.
Toward the end of Game 4 of the first-round series victory over the Phoenix Suns, Finch suffered an injury after colliding with Mike Conley Jr.
Head coaching record
| 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 | |||||
| Career | 287 | 160 | 127 | .557 | 11 | 3 | 8 | .273 | |||
National team career
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.