Associate head coach David Vanterpool and assistant coach Bryan Gates won’t be returning to new coach Chris Finch’s staff with the Minnesota Timberwolves next season, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Tuesday.
Finch was hired midseason to replace Ryan Saunders, who had hired Vanterpool and Gates.
Vanterpool had received support from several NBA players, including Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns, to replace Saunders, and many expressed anger that he did not get the job or, at minimum, the appearance of being considered for the role. Vanterpool is Black; Finch is white.
The leadership of the National Basketball Coaches Association also spoke out about its “concern and level of disappointment” with the way the Timberwolves went about their coaching change in late February.
Gates joined the Timberwolves for a second stint with the team after the 2019 season.