Coach Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves has signed a contract extension, the club announced on Monday.
ESPN reported that the agreement is for four seasons and runs through the 2027-28 season.
The contract extension came after Finch led the Timberwolves to the Western Conference finals for only the second time in franchise history. Minnesota lost to the Dallas Mavericks in five games.
“I am proud of how we have established a great culture here at the Timberwolves, and I look forward to continuing to lead this organization and make our fans proud,” Finch said in a press release.
Minnesota went 56-26 this season, the second-highest winning record in franchise history, and Finch finished third in Coach of the Year voting. The Timberwolves were the No. 3 seed in the West and swept the Phoenix Suns in the first round, advancing to a playoff series for the first time since 2004.
The Timberwolves then defeated the defending champion Denver Nuggets in the second round. Minnesota pulled off the biggest road comeback in NBA history in Game 7, overcoming a 20-point deficit to beat the Nuggets 98-90.
“Chris is a wonderful coach and an even better person,” Tim Connelly, president of basketball operations, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to see him rewarded with a well-deserved contract extension. Under his leadership, the team has improved each year and he is the perfect leader for our organization.”
Finch, 54, suffered a tear to the 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 underwent surgery and was forced to sit on the bench, slightly off the sideline, to rest his knee for the rest of the playoffs.
Assistant Micah Nori took Finch’s place on the sidelines and handled some of the other coaching duties.
Finch posted a 160-127 record in three and a half seasons as head coach of Minnesota, his first time coaching an NBA team.
