Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch welcomed the NBA’s decision to take a harder stance against flopping, arguing that the league should stop rewarding actions that do not belong in basketball.
Finch offered a blunt assessment of the issue and said he believes both fans and players are tired of seeing exaggerated reactions become part of the game.
“Hopefully the league cleans up this crap, because nobody wants to watch it,” Finch said, per The Athletic. “That’s what they said was the feedback from the fans. They’re tired of watching the flopping. And we know that it’s been rewarded at too high a level, so just stop rewarding the flopping.”
The NBA is expected to be more aggressive in addressing flopping during the 2026-27 season, including through technical fouls during games and fines after the fact.
“They said they’re going to be more aggressive in calling technicals against flopping or fining after the fact,” Finch said. “For me it’s a simple fix. Just don’t reward these non-basketball actions. That’s it. Those of us who have been in the sport long enough know what it is and what it isn’t.”
Finch’s comments come as the Timberwolves prepare for a season in which their roster has undergone significant changes around Anthony Edwards.
Minnesota finished 49-33 last season and reached the Western Conference semifinals. Edwards led the team with 28.8 points per game in 61 appearances, while Julius Randle averaged 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists.
Both Randle and Naz Reid have since departed. Minnesota traded Randle to Brooklyn in June before sending Reid to Charlotte in the four-team deal that brought LaMelo Ball to the Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves subsequently re-signed Ayo Dosunmu to a five-year, $112 million contract and signed Jonathan Kuminga to a two-year deal.
Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert remain important pieces of the lineup, with Gobert coming off a season in which he averaged 11.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game while earning All-Defensive First Team honors.
