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NBA coaches' association rebukes Timberwolves for quick Finch hiring

Gary Dineen / National Basketball Association / Getty

The National Basketball Coaches Association issued a statement Wednesday expressing disappointment in the hiring process for new Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch.

"We would be remiss not to acknowledge a deeper concern and level of disappointment with the Minnesota head coach hiring process," read a statement from NBCA president Rick Carlisle and executive director David Fogel.

"The NBCA understands and respects each organization's right to hire and fire whomever and whenever it chooses. But it is also our responsibility to point out when an organization fails to conduct a thorough and transparent search of candidates from a wide range of diverse backgrounds.

"During this past offseason, we saw many NBA head coaching vacancies where teams led searches that were both diverse and transparent. This must be the standard. We must establish a level playing field and equal access to opportunity for all coaching candidates."

Minnesota reportedly reached an agreement with Finch on Sunday night only a few hours after dismissing Ryan Saunders. The Timberwolves officially announced Finch, who previously served as an assistant with the Toronto Raptors, as their new head coach Monday.

The quick decision prompted reactions from NBA players such as Damian Lillard, who asked why highly regarded Timberwolves assistant David Vanterpool, who is Black, wasn't considered for the job.

The move also garnered criticism from some within the league's coaching ranks.

"Fire Ryan. Hire Finch on the same day. Pass over David Vanterpool. Crazy. Shaking my head," one unidentified Black NBA head coach told ESPN's Marc J. Spears.

Timberwolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas - the NBA's first Latino team president - defended the team's hiring process earlier this week.

"As a minority leader, I take pride in assembling a diverse front office, coaching, and basketball operations staff. It's one of the first priorities when I took on the role of president of basketball operations of the Minnesota Timberwolves," said Rosas.

He added: "I know there are more hurdles for minorities. I had to leap over those personally, and it's why I put internal programs in place to help all of our staff be prepared for the next step. I know David's day will come, and we will continue to do what we can to develop him."

Seven of the league's 30 current head coaches are Black.

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