Chris Finch takes savage shot at JJ Redick on Zach Lowe Show

Finch’s podcast dig

Minnesota head coach Chris Finch raised some eyebrows during a live taping of The Zach Lowe Show when he joked that many people leaving the crowd to record a podcast “would qualify you to coach the Lakers.” The quip landed as a sharp, playful jab at Los Angeles coach JJ Redick and his unconventional move from media into an NBA head coaching role.

The remark got attention because Redick’s jump from broadcasting and podcasting into the Lakers’ top job was unusual — and has been a talking point since he was hired. While the comment had a bite to it, it read more like locker-room teasing than a personal attack, partly because Finch and Redick have history together from their time in New Orleans.

Two coaching journeys

Redick’s path to the Lakers didn’t follow the typical route. A longtime player turned media personality, he stepped into a head coaching position without prior experience leading an NBA team, which drew both curiosity and criticism. Still, the Lakers reached the postseason in his first year and have remained a serious contender despite injuries to key players.

Finch, by contrast, climbed the traditional ladder. His resume includes years coaching overseas, stops in the G League, and assistant roles before Minnesota hired him in 2021. That slow build helped him develop a structured offensive system and steady decision-making that paid off in deep playoff runs — including a memorable comeback in a Game 7 and a trip to the Western Conference finals. He even picked up a playoff series win over the Lakers along the way, adding some extra spice to their matchups.

With both teams near the top of the conference this season, every meeting feels important. Finch’s one-liner was a reminder of how different roads can lead to the same place — and that friendly jabs are part of the culture when familiar faces cross paths again.