Chris Finch Roasts JJ Redick’s Podcast Experience: “Qualifies You To Coach Lakers”

Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch took a playful shot at Los Angeles head coach JJ Redick.

Chris Finch Roasts JJ Redick’s Podcast Experience: “Qualifies You To Coach Lakers”

Chris Finch and JJ Redick (Image credits - Firstsportz)

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Chris Finch appears to like a joke or two. JJ Redick had a very unconventional path to the Los Angeles Lakers bench. Deemed as a “dream job” that confers instant credibility, Redick’s appointment to the Lakers head coaching position was a surprise to many and met with a fair share of skepticism and criticism. It was an unusual path as Redick took a career jump from media to the Lakers bench.

The former Duke star and ESPN analyst had zero coaching experience prior to joining the Lakers. Coaching the Lakers is viewed as the most prestigious job as the pressure that comes with the job involves a lot of pressure and scrutiny. To add to that, his connection with star player LeBron James, who hosted a podcast with Redick, Mind The Game, was seen as a conflict of interest.

Lakers have been a good team under JJ Redick as they finished third in the Western Conference last season and currently sit at fifth with eight wins in 12 games. But a first round exit against last season’s Western Conference finalists, Minnesota Timberwolves in five games led to some doubts whether Redick has what it takes to deliver a championship.

Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch made an appearance on The Zach Lowe Show in Minneapolis and made a snide comment at JJ Redick that gained cheers from the crowd:

I bet three-quarters of these people here are going to go home and do a podcast tonight. I mean, it will qualify you to coach for the Lakers, you know.

Chris Finch showed why experience matters in the playoffs last season

It was a clash between the Lakers, who were seeded third and the Timberwolves (sixth seeds) in the first round of the playoffs last season. Many expected the Lakers to come out on top in the mouthwatering tie, as they headed into the postseason in fine form with Luka Doncic and LeBron James leading the charge.

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Luka Doncic’s (Left) and LeBron James’ Lakers suffered a 4-1 loss to Minnesota in the first round. (Image credits – CNN)

But when it comes to the playoffs, experience plays a key role, especially for a head coach as Finch outcoached Redick convincingly during the entire tie. Timberwolves led by Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle took out the team from LA in just five games and wrapped up the series 4-1.

Finch was hired by Minnesota in 2021 and gradually built a strong and well-oiled machine. Back-to-back Western Conference finalists in 2024 and 2025 has shown that this team is hungry and ready to contend for bigger things. There is a personal touch to this story as well, as Finch coached Redick during their time with the Pelicans, so the joke is unlikely to come off as hostile.

Minnesota Timberwolves are picking steam

After a shaky start to the season, Finch and his men have found some footing and are currently on a three-game winning streak. Finch has started to shrink his rotation and demanded more from his players defensively. They have seven wins from 11 games as they are currently placed at sixth in the Western Conference standings, one place below the Lakers.

Timberwolves have usually struggled against teams with a losing record in the past but they appear to have gotten over that hurdle with wins over the Pacers. Hornets, Nets, Jazz and the Sacramento Kings. Finch seems to have found his rotation and core group of players as the season goes on.

Lakers and the Wolves have clashed twice this season already with the Lakers winning both games. The second game was a tight game as the Lakers sealed the win by one point. The two contenders will not be meeting again till March, when the push for higher seeding in the conference standings gains momentum.

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