Coach of the Year is the highest individual honor an NBA coach can earn. However, no Minnesota Timberwolves head coach has ever received this award. Entering the 2025-26 season, Chris Finch has a chance to win this prestigious award and make history in the process. By all accounts, Finch is already the best coach in Timberwolves history after making two conference finals and posting a franchise-best win percentage of 56.6 to date.
Currently, BetMGM lists Finch at +2500 odds to win Coach of the Year, which is tied with Mike Brown, the eighth-shortest odds. Regardless, if things break right for the Wolves, Finch could certainly find his way to the COY discussions. Notably, Finch finished third in Coach of the Year voting in the 2023-24 season.
Finch has a clear path to winning Coach of the Year despite the odds
Jamahl Mosley, Quin Snyder, Ime Udoka, David Adelman, Mitch Johnson, JB Bickerstaff, and Darko Rajaković are seven coaches with shorter odds than Finch. The first five coaches all have upgraded rosters this offseason. So if their teams have stellar seasons, it's easy to see one of them being the COY. However, it could be argued that their success is more due to front office moves.
Mosely, Snyder, and Johnson could all see their team rise up the standings, which could be a significant factor in this award. As for Udoka and Adelman, I don't see it unless the Houston Rockets or Denver Nuggets truly challenge the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Bickerstaff and the Detroit Pistons had a magical season last year, but that was probably his best chance to win the award. If Rajaković makes this jigsaw puzzle of a Toronto Raptors team work, he could certainly get COY recognition. Nevertheless, that's a massive if. This all gives Finch a clear path to win Coach of the Year. Of course, there could be an unexpected dark horse, but Finch should be viewed as a contender for the award.
The Wolves' success and young talent will impact Finch's COY chances
Last season, the Wolves finished sixth in the conference with a 49-33 record. However, they eventually made a Western Conference Finals run and finished the regular season with a 16-4 record in the last 20 games. The Wolves showed their upside in the second half of the season and playoffs. Minnesota could continue this strong play in the upcoming season, proving they are one of the top teams in the West.
If the Wolves are able to earn a top-three seed without making any major roster changes while the rest of the West improved this summer, that's a testament to Finch's coaching. With Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo being acclimated to the team and the development of young talent, a jump in the standings is a real possibility. Similarly, if Rob Dillingham, Terrence Shannon Jr., and Jaylen Clark take massive strides this season, that's a credit to Finch.
Finch has established himself as one of the league's best coaches since getting the T-Wolves job in 2021. He has helped turn the franchise around and has developed one of the NBA's best cultures. Finch is also one of the best basketball minds with creative schemes on both ends of the court. Overall, if the Wolves have enough success, it's easy to see Finch bringing home the Coach of the Year award.