Karl-Anthony Towns was shocked when he learned that Chris Finch would be replacing Flip Saunders as the new head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Wolves’ superstar did not learn about the news until after the team’s loss to the New York Knicks. “I was eating my Joe’s Pizza in New York with my father, and the next thing you know, news came out and we were all shocked,” Towns explained.
Once the initial shock faded, Towns was supportive of the organization’s decision to name Finch as their new head coach. Despite this, the two-time All-Star couldn’t help but notice what his peers pointed out, that another African-American coach was passed over for a head coaching position – current Wolves’ assistant coach David Vanterpool.
The Wolves’ star touched upon the topic of minority coaches being overlooked. “I’d be remiss if I didn’t come on here and mention the amazing work that men of color are doing in this world,” Towns said. “For what my job is, there’s a lot of amazing men of color out there that deserve the opportunity to lead a team and to run an organization and have a chance to make their mark in this league, not with a jersey on but with a suit on and, I say that with meaning.”
“I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the amazing work David Vanterpool has put in, and as a man who looks like me, I can’t wait to see him get a job where he can flourish and be a head coach and run a team,” Towns said. “We’re so honored and blessed to have him here on this coaching staff and get to continue learning from him and soak up all the wisdom and experience he has from playing professional and also from being a coach.”
There are currently only seven black coaches representing the 30 teams in the NBA. “As a man of color myself, you would love to see more coaches that resemble what I, and you look like on the sidelines, but you’ve got to support the organization in everything you do and understand,” Towns said about minority representation. Despite his personal thoughts about the hiring, the star will remain professional because it is a business. “I understand how everything is, but at the end of the day, the organization made the choice that they felt was best for this organization, and you’ve got to be a professional in all of this,” the All-Star said.
Finch will become Minnesota’s fourth head coach since Towns joined the NBA in 2015-16.
