標籤: Finchs

Mike Conley’s playing time has declined significantly this season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, as the team aims to introduce younger players into the lineup. Although this is the case, head coach Chris Finch admits it is difficult not to play the 19-year-old veteran.

Speaking to media members on Tuesday, Finch admitted that removing the 38-year-old point guard from the rotation is one of the toughest decisions he has made in his coaching career, according to Timberwolves reporter Dan Moore. Finch compared not playing with Conley to being on offense.

“Honestly, it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in coaching,” Finch said of benching Conley. “Especially with who he is as a person and professional, and everything he’s done for us. Feels like a crime against humanity.”

Chris Finch was asked what it was like to have Mike Connelly removed from the rotation.

“To be honest with you, it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in coaching… especially with who he is as a person and a professional, and everything he’s done for us. It feels… pic.twitter.com/jSeYDaP3BD

– Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) 24 March 2026

Mike Conley has played in 47 games for the Timberwolves this season, starting nine of those contests. His playing time decreased shortly after as he was traded twice this season (first to the Chicago Bulls, then to the Charlotte Hornets) before being released by Charlotte, only to re-sign with Minnesota.

In the games he played, Conley averaged career lows in minutes (17.8), points (4.1), rebounds (1.7), assists (2.9), and steals (0.6). His field goal percentage (31.5%) and three-point percentage (31.1%) are also career lows.

Conley is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent after the 2025-26 campaign. The one-time All-Star will get an opportunity to sign with a new team in the offseason. However, due to lack of playing time and his age, it is likely that Mike Conley will retire after this season.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are stuck in a dogfight in the Western Conference, as they remain sixth in the standings despite easily defeating the Dallas Mavericks 122-111 in their first game after the All-Star break. It’s going to be tough going forward, which in turn will force the Timberwolves to raise their standards so they can surpass their peers.

However, at this point, the Timberwolves are looking for ways to be better than the team they were the day before and the day before that. They are not exactly keeping themselves on par with others; What is important for them is that they reach their full potential.

However, currently, head coach Chris Finch said he does not know if the Timberwolves are there yet, especially when compared to last season.

“When you sit back and look at it, we have very high internal expectations. If you take the temperature of the team internally, we’ll probably be a little disappointed with where we are. We feel like we should be a little more forward. We’ve been inconsistent on our defense at times, that’s hurt us. The West is even more competitive this year,” Finch said, via Dan Moore, Timberwolves beat reporter.

“I don’t know if we’re better or not. We’ll evaluate that at the end of the season. But we know who we need to be when we become a good team. And sometimes we stray from that.”

Here Chris Finch was asked whether this season’s Wolves team is better than last season’s team.

“When you sit back and look at it, we have very high expectations internally. If you measure the temperature of the team internally, we’ll probably be a little disappointed with where we are… pic.twitter.com/qN2UpcWTQT

– Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) 20 February 2026

Timberwolves know next step is to get over the hump

The Timberwolves may have made the conference finals in 2024 and 2025, but they weren’t exactly competitive once they got there. They lost to the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder in five games; They gave up a few winnable games against the Mavs, but against the Thunder, they trailed for most of the five-game series.

The challenge has not been easy for the Timberwolves. Thunder is still looming. The Nuggets have a lot of depth. But he has the ability to overcome the hump, that is for sure.