In a stunning move that has shocked fans and analysts across the NBA landscape, the Minnesota Timberwolves have officially parted ways with head coach Chris Finch following the team’s disappointing exit from the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Despite a strong regular season and high hopes heading into the postseason, the Timberwolves’ second-round sweep at the hands of the lower-seeded Sacramento Kings appears to have sealed Finch’s fate.
The team announced the decision early Wednesday morning in a terse statement: “Effective immediately, Chris Finch has been relieved of his duties as Head Coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves. We thank Coach Finch for his leadership and contributions over the past four seasons and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
Finch took over as head coach in 2021 and quickly earned a reputation as a smart, offense-minded leader. He helped revitalize the franchise, bringing them to back-to-back playoff appearances and guiding the team to the Western Conference Finals in 2024 — their first in 20 years. Under Finch, the Wolves posted their best win percentage since the Kevin Garnett era, led by the dynamic duo of Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns.
But expectations in 2025 were sky-high. After finishing the regular season with a 52–30 record — their best since 2004 — the Timberwolves entered the playoffs as the No. 3 seed and swept their first-round opponent, the Phoenix Suns. Hopes were soaring in Minneapolis.
Then came the collapse.
In the second round, the Timberwolves looked flat, uninspired, and outcoached, dropping four straight games to the Sacramento Kings. Questions swirled around Finch’s in-game adjustments, his reluctance to shorten the rotation, and the overall locker-room chemistry — which multiple insiders claim had begun to fray late in the season.
Team president Tim Connelly spoke briefly to the media Wednesday afternoon. “This is not a decision we took lightly,” he said. “Chris is a tremendous basketball mind and an even better person, but at the end of the day, we have championship aspirations. The time was right for a new voice to lead this group.”
Rumors of tension between Finch and Connelly had circulated earlier in the season, particularly surrounding mid-season trades and player rotations. While both parties denied any rift, today’s announcement suggests that alignment at the top may have been more fragile than previously reported.
Star shooting guard Anthony Edwards reacted to the news on Instagram, writing, “Coach Finch believed in me from day one. This one hurts.” Center Karl-Anthony Towns, who had been a vocal supporter of Finch, declined to comment but was seen leaving practice facilities shortly after the news broke.
On social media, reactions were mixed. Some fans praised the front office for acting decisively in pursuit of a championship window, while others questioned the logic of firing a coach who led the franchise to one of its most successful stretches in decades.
With Finch out, the Timberwolves now begin a crucial coaching search at a pivotal time. Names already being floated include Milwaukee Bucks assistant Charles Lee, former Suns head coach Monty Williams, and even veteran tactician Mike D’Antoni.
Whoever takes over will inherit a talented but volatile roster, high expectations, and the challenge of turning promise into trophies.
As for Chris Finch, the 55-year-old coach is unlikely to be out of work for long. His basketball IQ and recent success make him a prime candidate for openings around the league.
One chapter ends in Minnesota — but the pressure to win has never been greater.
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