Jonathan Kuminga’s first impression of Chris Finch is exactly the kind of early sign the Timberwolves were hoping for.
Kuminga, who arrived in Minnesota after a five-and-a-half-year run with Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors that he described through a rocky lens, is now being asked to fit into a very different setup. The Wolves already have plenty of on-ball talent in Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, and Jaden McDaniels, so Kuminga’s value will come from how well he plugs into the machine rather than trying to run it.
So far, that part looks encouraging. Kuminga had warm things to say about Finch during training camp.
“It’s been great, I think he’s a vocal person, he’ll express himself, he’ll pull you to the side and he’ll listen to you," Kuminga said about his early impressions of Finch. "I think his communication has been great so far.”
That kind of quote can sound routine in camp, and sure, nobody’s throwing chairs in October. But there are real reasons to think this relationship matters.
Finch was part of the recruiting effort that brought Kuminga to Minnesota, which gave the two a head start before camp even opened. And after Kuminga was traded to the Hawks, Anthony Slater reported that "Kerr never had much success reaching Kuminga on a deeper level."
That makes Finch’s early success with him more than just lip service. Kuminga praising the coach’s communication lines up with Finch’s own belief that the forward understands what the Timberwolves need from him and has already started leaning into it.
That’s the key here. Kuminga appears to know he’s stepping into a starting role, but also that the job description is specific: defend hard, move without the ball, and become connective tissue around the team’s bigger creators. He may simply be more mature now, but Finch’s direct communication and clear trust seem to be accelerating the adjustment.
The basketball fit helps too. Finch’s offense gives Kuminga more freedom than Kerr’s more intricate system did, and Minnesota’s athleticism should push the pace in a way that plays to Kuminga’s strengths. Playing alongside LaMelo Ball is another boost for him.
The big question, though, is whether Kuminga fully embraces the complementary role Minnesota needs from him.
If he does, he can be a supercharged role player - a physical defender, an explosive finisher, and a guy who trims down the daring shots that caused problems before. He’ll still get chances to create in Finch’s free-flowing offense, but his main job is pretty clear.
If he doesn’t buy in, the downside is obvious. Poor shot selection could bog down the offense, and if he loses focus off the ball, the Wolves could be staring at another regular season that never quite turns into the kind of playoff position they want.
For now, though, the signs point in the right direction. Finch and Kuminga look aligned on the role, and that early chemistry could end up being one of the pieces that helps Minnesota reach its championship ceiling.
In Other News...
Joan Beringer Could Fix A Timberwolves Problem Fans Know Too Well
Joan Beringer enters his second season with a clear opening on the Minnesota Timberwolves roster: the chance to handle the minutes behind Rudy Gobert. For a team that has long had to manage the non-Gobert stretches carefully, that matters. Beringers appeal is straightforward enough for a coaching staff to appreciate. He brings athleticism, a promising defensive profile and enough presence around the basket to give Minnesota a different look at center when the starter sits.
The bigger question is how much of that potential shows up right away. Beringer is still a developing player, but his value could reach beyond simple backup duty if his defense translates the way the Wolves hope and his offense adds some easy finish opportunities at the rim. For a team built on making life difficult for opponents, even modest progress there could make a noticeable difference in the minutes that have too often been a soft spot. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Finch Sees One Early Sign Wolves Fans Will Love In LaMelo Ball
As Minnesota settles into the early stages of the season, Chris Finch has been paying close attention to LaMelo Balls fit and, more importantly, to the parts of his game that can sharpen the Timberwolves right away. The coachs perspective matters here because Minnesota is not looking for a reinvention so much as a seamless addition of talent, and Finchs read on Ball has centered on the idea that the guard can bring his usual style without being boxed into something unfamiliar.
The encouraging part for Wolves fans is the way Finch has framed Balls preseason work on the defensive end, where Minnesota has been searching for signs that his tools can translate beyond the highlight plays. With his length and awareness already drawing notice alongside Rudy Gobert, there is at least a real opening for Ball to contribute in a way that fits the Wolves identity, even if the full picture of his role is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Joan Beringer Just Gave Timberwolves Fans A Reason To Watch Him Closely
Joan Beringer gave the Timberwolves a useful look in their preseason meeting with the Bucks, showing why the front office is still intrigued by his long-term upside in the frontcourt. The young big man looked more comfortable as a screener and more dependable around the rim than he did as a rookie, which matters for a Minnesota team that is always searching for size and reliability inside.
The performance also came with a reminder that his development is still a work in progress. Foul trouble clipped his stint and kept him from building on the strong stretches he flashed, leaving the Wolves with the same kind of question they have had around him all along: how quickly can he turn promising tools into something they can count on every night? [Read more 🡒]