New Orleans Pelicans: Examining Chris Finch’s Head Coaching Candidacy

The next head coach for the New Orleans Pelicans could already be on the team’s staff

When looking back at the New Orleans Pelicans end of the season press conference yesterday, I found something I previously overlooked. It was a subtle mention in passing by David Griffin but one that’s a peek into his plans for the organization’s future.

For a front office who just fired their head coach, Griffin made the odd move to give praise to some of the assistant coaches on Alvin Gentry’s staff, specifically lead assistant Chris Finch.

When speaking about Chris Finch, Griffin glowed saying:

"“Some of our assistant coaches potentially will be head coaching candidates elsewhere, Chris Finch certainly among them. He’ll be part of our conversation moving forward” – David Griffin, Pelicans VP (via NBA.com)"

Is it just me speculating or does it sound like Griffin is hinting at the fact the organization is interested in having Chris Finch take over? If David Griffin thinks he’s a head coaching candidate in the league then it would make sense to believe that their conversations moving forward will be about Finch taking over.

That could also be why David Griffin isn’t sweating a head coaching search with four other openings in the NBA because he might already have his guy. If that’s the case, it’s time to learn more about Chris Finch and how he could potentially fit the New Orleans Pelicans roster.

Who Is New Orleans Pelicans Assistant Chris Finch?

Let’s start with Chris Finch’s coaching background because his route to the NBA is much different then many coaches in the running for the New Orleans Pelicans. His story is very similar to the current Toronto Raptors head coach, Nick Nurse.

After having a successful Division-III college career at Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania, Finch went overseas to England to play professionally, where he got his start coaching.

From there, Chris Finch was coaching all around Europe as a head coach for teams in England, Germany, and Belgium before ultimately becoming a head coach in the NBA’s G-League in 2010.

Successful stints for the Houston Rocket’s G-League affiliate led to Finch getting opportunities as an assistant in Houston and Denver before joining the Pelicans in 2017 as associate head coach.

It’s been a long road for the 50-year old Chris Finch, to say the least!

What Could Chris Finch Bring As New Orleans Pelicans Head Coach

From everything I read, Chris Finch has not only shared a similar path to Nick Nurse getting to the NBA, but he could be just as good of a coach as Nurse at the NBA level.

When people talk about Chris Finch, they refer to him as an offensive genius and a coach who understands player development. This could give Finch some good momentum internally to be an under the radar candidate to take the reigns of the New Orleans Pelicans.

Think back to two summers ago, Nick Nurse was never viewed as a favorite to the public for the Toronto Raptors job but the team gave it to him. With Chris Finch already knowing the New Orleans Pelicans roster, David Griffin could make his bold move and hire him as the next head coach.

Think about it, with Chris Finch at the helm the New Orleans Pelicans will return continuity to an offense that one of the best in the NBA this past season, allow him to add his own staff and the team’s defense can improve as well.

With the New Orleans Pelicans organization obsessing about growing their young core so they can leap into championship contention, Chris Finch would make sense as a coach with a developmental focus.

There’s a chance this all empty speculation, but at the same time don’t be surprised if Chris Finch ends up being the man leading the New Orleans Pelicans’ sidelines for years to come.