During a a live episode of The Zach Lowe Show in Minneapolis, Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch appeared to aim a snide comment at Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick.
While speaking with Lowe, Finch made a comment about many of the members of the crowd going home to record a podcast, then adding it would “qualify you to coach the Lakers.”
Minnesota and Los Angeles are no strangers to one another. The Lakers (8-4) and Timberwolves (7-4), sit in fifth and sixth place respectively in the Western Conference, and last season sixth-seeded the Timberwolves defeated Los Angeles in the first round of the playoffs in just five games.
GettyLos Angeles Lakers players Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart, and head coach had strong reactions after the team’s lowest-scoring game and blowout loss to the OKC Thunder.
JJ Redickâs Unusual Road To The Lakers Bench
Redick’s appointment to the Lakers’ head coaching position was met with skepticism and criticism when he was announced prior to the 2024-25 season. The former Duke star and 17-year NBA veteran had zero head coaching experience prior to joining the Lakers. His connection to star forward LeBron James, who hosted a podcast with Redick, was also criticized as a conflict of interest.
That background is what made Finchâs one-liner land the way it did, aimed at a coach whose unusual path from media to the Lakers bench remains part of his story.
The Lakers reached the postseason in Redick’s first year. Los Angeles remains a strong playoff contender despite injuries to key players. James has not appeared in a game this season while recovering from an injury, but recently has made strides toward returning to the court.
GettyChris Finch and the Timberwolves will be without Anthony Edwards for at least two weeks.
Chris Finch’s NBA Path
Finch took a long, winding route to the Timberwolves job. He spent years coaching overseas, worked through the G League and held roles on several NBA staffs before getting his shot. That background shaped him into a coach known for steady decision-making and an offense built on structure.
Minnesota hired him in 2021 and gradually built a roster that fit his style. The group grew into a tough, disciplined team that made a strong postseason push, pulled off a memorable Game 7 comeback against Denver and reached the Western Conference finals. He earned a new contract after that run, and one of the notable stops along the way was a first-round win over Redickâs Lakers, which added some natural friction to the matchup.
This season, the Timberwolves and Lakers have both opened near the top of the conference, so even early games feel a little bigger. Finchâs comment landed the way it did because these arenât rebuilding teams; theyâre competing for the same real estate.
Thereâs also a personal layer here. Finch coached Redick during their time together in New Orleans, so the joke didnât come across as hostile. It sounded like an inside nudge from someone who climbed the traditional ladder toward a former player who stepped into coaching through a very modern doorway.
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