Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch has signed an extension, the club announced Monday.
ESPN reported the agreement is for four seasons and runs through the 2027-28 season.
The extension comes after Finch guided the Timberwolves to the Western Conference finals for just the second time in franchise history. Minnesota lost to the Dallas Mavericks in five games.
“I’m proud of the way we’ve been able to establish a great culture here with the Timberwolves and I look forward to continuing to lead this organization and make our fans proud,” Finch said in a news release.
Minnesota went 56-26 this season for the second-highest win total in franchise history and Finch placed third in Coach of the Year balloting. The Timberwolves were the No. 3 seed in the West and swept the Phoenix Suns in the first round for their first playoff series advancement since 2004.
Then the Timberwolves took out the defending champion Denver Nuggets in the second round. Minnesota pulled off the biggest Game 7 road comeback in NBA history, overcoming a 20-point deficit en route to a 98-90 win over the Nuggets.
“Chris is a wonderful coach, and an even better person,” president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said in a statement. “We are thrilled that he is being rewarded with a well-earned extension. Under his guidance the team has improved every year, he’s the perfect leader for our organization.”
Finch, 54, sustained a ruptured right patellar tendon in his knee in Game 4 of the series against Phoenix when point guard Mike Conley accidentally ran into him on the sideline. He had surgery and had to sit on the bench, back away from the sideline, to protect the knee for the rests of the playoffs.
Assistant Micah Nori stood on the sidelines in Finch’s place and handled some of the other coaching responsibilities.
Finch has a 160-127 record in 3 1/2 seasons as Minnesota’s head coach, his first time leading an NBA squad.
–Field Level Media