Chris Finch called NBA official ‘bozo’ before getting ejected: “Woke up choosing violence”

Minnesota Timberwolves HC Chris Finch earned his first career ejection following a heated confrontation with 'bozo' officials.

Chris Finch called NBA official ‘bozo’ before getting ejected: “Woke up choosing violence”

Chris Finch goes off on officiating

Minnesota Timberwolves HC Chris Finch was on one on Wednesday. The fifth-year veteran coach earned his first-ever career ejection in a game that saw the Timberwolves defeat the Phoenix Suns 121-113. At one point in the game, the Suns led by 12 points before an inspired comeback from the Wolves helped them cross the hump, in large parts due to the ejection of Finch in the third quarter firing up the team.

According to the NBA’s pool report following the game, Finch was assessed his first technical foul for a profanity towards an official. After this, he earned a game-ending second ejection for himself by reportedly calling the referees ‘Bozos’ under his breath, as reported by the Star Tribune’s Chris Hine.

Finch’s ejection came as frustrations from his own team’s questionable effort and the questionable officiating, in his opinion, tipped him over the edge. After the game, Wolves star Nickeil Alexander-Walker addressed Finch’s frustration, claiming that his head coach chose violence early in the day.

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He woke up choosing violence. Everybody was getting yelled at.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker said postgame

As Walker and the rest of the Wolves attested, Chris Finch had been brutal with the team in their film session prior to the game, especially calling out their lackluster effort in their narrow win over the Atlanta Hawks in the previous game.

Anthony Edwards reveals how Chris Finch hit at his manhood

Anthony Edwards is easily one of the most outspoken stars in the NBA. So it was no shocker that he felt a certain way when his head coach decided to berate everyone on the team for their performances against the Hawks, especially targeting Edwards for his defensive effort, or lack so off. After the win against the Suns, Edwards addressed the words of his coach.

I think he went to sleep last night with violence on his mind… The way he did us in film today, particularly me, it was a tough day for us… When he was getting on us, especially to me, you always want to think about, ‘Aw, he trying me. He trying my manhood. I want to say something back… But when you think about it … I would’ve been a fool in film to say something back.

Anthony Edwards said postgame

Although he definitely was not comfortable with the aggressive approach of his head coach, Edwards has made his stance about respecting his ‘OG’s‘ clear, and that definitely includes his coach. Anthony Edwards responded to the criticism by Chris Finch in the perfect manner, dropping a tied game-high 33 points, injecting the team with life after the ejection of Finch in the third.

Though he did record 7 turnovers, with many in the first half, he was crucial in ensuring that the Wolves were able to withstand the 1-2 scoring tandem of Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. As Chris Finch indicated by getting on his superstar before the game, Edwards’ approach to the game, in many ways, defines what the outcome of the day looks like for the streaky Timberwolves.