Chris Finch's Anthony Edwards regret is a subtle reminder of their strong connection

Chris Finch, who was hired in the middle of Anthony Edwards' rookie season, has been with the Minnesota Timberwolves superstar for nearly his entire career. The two have built a close bond and enjoyed plenty of playoff success, including two conference finals appearances. 

Still, with such time together, both people are bound to have some sort of regrets. Recently, on The Road Trippin' podcast, Chris Finch opened up about his biggest Edwards-related regret, mentioning calling him out after Game 1 of the Wolves' 2025 series against the Golden State Warriors. 

"One moment that sticks out was Game 1 of the semis last year against Golden State, and I called him out publicly in the postgame. It was definitely unnecessary; I know he was a little hurt by it. He takes all of that coaching criticism well. That point in time, it was probably not needed. He woke up; he was great the rest of the series. You are allowed to have a bad game from time to time, but I didn't give him that grace, and I regret that moment," Finch said. 

If you need a refresher, the Timberwolves lost 99-88 against the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the 2025 semifinals. In this game, Edwards scored 22 points and shot just 9-for-22 from the field. The Wolves dropping this game at home while Stephen Curry left with an injury added to the disappointment, which led to Finch calling out Ant.

"It starts with Ant," Finch said following the Wolves' 99-88 loss Tuesday night. "I thought he struggled, and then you could just kind of see the light go out a little bit for a while."

"What is there to talk about? You're the leader of the team," Finch said. "You've got to come out and set the tone. If your shot is not going, you still have to carry the energy. If I've got to talk to guys about having the right energy coming into an opening second-round game, then we're not on the same page."

Chris Finch and Anthony Edwards have a great relationship

Calling out your star in public is a delicate balance, and when you extend it to energy, it's a rough look, especially after the stellar first-round series he had. Thankfully, as Finch noted, Edwards responded, averaging 27 points, 6.5 assists, and 6 rebounds, with 61 effective field goal percentage for the rest of the series to help the Wolves reach their second straight conference finals. This moment quickly became water under the bridge.

Edwards being able to respond to the challenge, even if it was uncomfortable, is a testament to him. For some players, this moment could have damaged a relationship. One of Finch's biggest strengths is his ability to connect with players, making this a pretty rare blunder, but Finch admitting this mistake shows his self-awareness.

Finch has helped Edwards grow as both a leader and player. He has been with Edwards as he's ascended from a talented rookie to a legitimate superstar. Similarly, Finch has routinely gotten the most out of Edwards, especially in the biggest moments.

Edwards has often said that he and Finch have the best relationship ever. There have been moments to back this up, including the two sharing a phone call shortly after Ant won All-Star Game MVP. 

A strong coach-star relationship is crucial for a championship-winning team -- Finch and Ant thankfully have that. Even if it wasn't the right move, Finch feels comfortable calling out Edwards, and Ant can put moments like this behind him and respond to the challenge. 

Finch and Edwards have an honest relationship. This past season, there was a viral moment where Ant yelled at Finch after hitting a big shot against the Los Angeles Clippers. Edwards did so because Finch had asked him to pass the ball before. The two moved past this moment, though, and Finch revealed on the Road Trippin' podcast that Edwards apologized for this exchange.

With a weaker relationship, this exchange could have been a lingering issue for both sides, but it was truly nothing for these two. The point is, despite having some bumpy moments, there's clearly a strong connection between Finch and Ant.

Finch has built a culture that's helped transform the Timberwolves and maximize Edwards' talent. His ability to connect with Ant and other players is undeniably a factor in the Wolves' recent success. 

Oftentimes, Finch goes to bat for his players, both in the postgame press conferences and on the court after officials. It's clear this results in a strong buy-in from the team. That's what makes his callout of Ant somewhat unusual, and clearly it's something he regretted.

As the Timberwolves try to level up to win a championship, Finch will continue to be a key cog in their success, and his connection with Ant is a clear factor.

A strong culture and a relationship between coach and star are a common thread for every title contender. Without a doubt, the Timberwolves check this box. 

So while Finch openly regrets calling Ant out in the 2025 playoffs, in a roundabout way, this admission only reminds me of their strong connection and the Timberwolves' general culture. 

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