It’s too late for the Minnesota Timberwolves to take back the trade that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. Minnesota is stuck with that decision, and this season has seen them start to pay for it. Giving up Towns was likely a mistake Minnesota would like back, as the up-and-down season exposed some significant weaknesses in the roster. That said, Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards has his squad back in the race, currently riding an eight-game win streak with a chance to extend it to nine tonight when they host the Indiana Pacers, another hot team of late. As for Minnesota’s recent turnaround, all the credit can’t fall on the players, as Edwards explains. Instead, much of the credit lies at the feet of a non-player.
Superhuman Timberwolves Star Credits Coach For Recent Surge
Minnesota Timberwolves HC Chris Finch Lit A Fire Underneath Star Anthony Edwards and Co.
Chris Finch is regarded as one of the top coaches in the NBA, plus, he’s highly respected by his players. Antman is one of them, considering his recent praise for his head coach following a romp over the Utah Jazz over the weekend. The win improved the Timberwolves to 40-29 on the season with 13 games left on the schedule. The win lands them right on the heels of the Golden State Warriors for the sixth seed. Surpassing them would take the Warriors dropping some games, although, at this point, the Warriors aren’t dropping any games. Still, Minnesota has time to leapfrog a few teams as long as they keep winning games. Their eight-game W streak has them one seed outside a playoff spot, and the turnaround apparently happened when Finch proposed a challenge to his team after a win in January. However, according to Edwards, the challenge was delivered with anger more than anything else (Twitter link).
“It’s been easier now that we got our whole team back. Everyone has the same mentality. I’m thinking of Phoenix, Finchy had a great meeting.” Edwards continued, “He said, ‘Either we’re gonna come together as a team and push for the Playoffs, or we’re gonna look for individual stats and accolades. Not be a team, lose the games we supposed to win, and be fighting for a playoff position. I think we’re all locked in right now collectively. It looks good.”
A real turning point of the season for the Wolves was a very angry film session/meeting led by Chris Finch on January 29th.
Randle after the game that night — a game Finch got ejected from — said “we should have seen him that morning”. Alexander-Walker said Finch “woke up that… https://t.co/9zY7SCQ5pc pic.twitter.com/2hUawQAgjZ
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) March 17, 2025
Whatever It Takes
A coach will not often light his locker room up following a win. He might go to the podium after the game and talk about the negative aspects of a game, even after a win. However, Edward’s explanation tells a different story. Whatever else Finch might have said in that team meeting, if there was more, did the job, and that’s his job. As a result, the Timberwolves have kicked things into gear, and Edwards too. This may be a sign of what Minnesota can look like sans KAT. This may be a sign that Edwards is becoming the MVP-type leader he is capable of.
© Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
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