Shortly following Sunday's news that the Minnesota Timberwolves had dismissed head coach Ryan Saunders, the team reportedly reached an agreement to hire Toronto Raptors assistant Chris Finch as the team's next bench boss.
That outcome didn't sit right with Damian Lillard. The superstar point guard mounted an impassioned defense of former Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach David Vanterpool, who had been the associate head coach under Saunders since the start of last season.
How the hell do you not hire David Vanterpool and he’s right there on the bench... and has been in front office SUCCESSFULLY and on the front of a bench of a winning team SUCCESSFULLY (7 years) ... and also has played a major role in the development of a dominant backcourt smdh!
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) February 22, 2021
During Vanterpool's time on Terry Stotts' staff from 2013-19, the Trail Blazers qualified for the postseason each year thanks in large part to Lillard's emergence from four-year standout at Weber State to NBA MVP candidate.
Shooting guard CJ McCollum, who enjoyed a similar breakout from star at Lehigh to the NBA's Most Improved Player in 2015-16, agreed with his backcourt mate.
"Make it make sense," he tweeted in response to Lillard. "Respectfully."
Lillard later clarified that he has nothing against Finch specifically. "Vanterpool is a coach that I know for sure is needed in these locker rooms," he said.
Timberwolves president Gersson Rosas previously worked with Finch as members of the Houston Rockets organization early last decade.
