Power. That word means different things to different folks.
But when you’re an American of African descent, it usually boils down to leveraging whatever influence you have to make life better for yourself, and your family. Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard is a bonified NBA superstar.
Thus, he has quite a bit of influence of his own and he’s looking to bring that influence to bear in support of former Trail Blazers assistant turned current Timberwolves assistant coach David Vanterpool.
Why? Well, you know that whole thing that’s been in the news lately called white privilege? Well, it appears as though the new Timberwolves interim head coach Chris Finch may have gotten a leg up on Vanterpool as a result of that, and Vanterpool’s former team members aren’t having it as the Timberwolves look to officially hire Finch as their new head coach, stepping over Vanterpool in the process.
“How the hell do you not hire David Vanterpool and he’s right there on the bench… and has been in front office SUCCESSFULLY and on the front of a bench of a winning team SUCCESSFULLY (7 years) … and also has played a major role in the development of a dominant backcourt smdh!,” Dame posted on Twitter.
Backcourt mate CJ McCollum wasn’t far behind.
Make it make sense. Respectfully. https://t.co/4crtNzWV0W
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) February 22, 2021
Vanterpool was an assistant with Portland for seven seasons before coming to Minnesota.
To be certain, Lillard’s adulation of Vanterpool’s coaching acumen isn’t anything new as he’s been trumpeting David’s talents for quite some time.
As the old saying goes, it’s often not what you know but who you know. And Finch and Minnesota’s president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas go back like spinal cords and car seats and worked together for five years when Finch was an assistant with Houston.
But Finch has ties to the Timberwolves front office.
He and Minnesota’s president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas worked together during their time with the Rockets. Finch was an assistant with Houston from 2011-2016.
Most recently, Finch was hired this season as an assistant for the Raptors.
