Chris Finch usually keeps things cool and professional at the podium, but the Minnesota Timberwolves head coach slips in a little spice every now and then. That’s exactly what happened ahead of Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder when he was asked about a familiar face in the building.
The moment quickly turned from a regular media question to a laugh-out-loud headline, and yes, it had to do with former Wolves PG Patrick Beverley. But it also says a lot about how this team is evolving.
Chris Finch Shuts Down the Patrick Beverley Pep Talk
Beverley has never been shy when it comes to speaking his mind or pumping up his teammates. So naturally, when reporters learned he’d be in the building for Game 4 of the Western Conference finals, someone asked Finch if Beverley would be giving a pregame speech.
Finch didn’t hesitate. Instead, he fired back with a funny, sharp, and kind of perfect eight-word response.
“No,” he replied. “I’ve had enough Pat Bev pregame speeches.”
Pat Bev is going to be here tonight, is he the pre-game speech you bring in?
Chris Finch: No, I’ve had enough Pat Bev pre-game speeches.
* everyone laughs #Timberwolves #WolvesBack pic.twitter.com/MHj3XXRZAv— Nadine Babu (@NadineBabu)
The Timberwolves are in the thick of a high-stakes Western Conference finals battle, and any outside distraction, no matter how well-intended, might not be welcome. This is a team trying to tie the series 2-2 after blowing out the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3, and Finch clearly wants the focus on the game, not the theatrics.
It’s also a reminder that while Beverley brought energy and leadership during his one season in Minnesota, his methods aren’t necessarily what Finch believes this group needs right now.
Beverley played for the Timberwolves during the 2021-22 season and left a lasting impression. He averaged 9.2 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game while helping the Wolves reach the playoffs. After they beat the Los Angeles Clippers in the play-in tournament, Beverley famously jumped on the scorer’s table in celebration – a moment that became internet gold.
But things between Finch and Beverly didn’t end on the best note. A few months later, Beverley was traded to the Utah Jazz as part of the deal that brought Rudy Gobert to Minnesota. According to Beverley, what upset him most wasn’t the trade; it was the lack of communication from the HC.
“When I get the call for the trade, I feel like the call should’ve come from the coach,” Beverley said on his podcast in 2022. “That’s where my anger came from. Not eight hours later or seven hours later, when the dust is starting to clear.”
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He also took another swipe at Finch last year. After a Bucks win over the Wolves in February 2024, Beverley, then with Milwaukee, called Finch a “sore loser” for not acknowledging him postgame.
So yes, there’s some history here. And while Finch’s one-liner before Game 4 might seem like a harmless joke, it also hints at deeper friction that never really got smoothed over.
