MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The young Minnesota Timberwolves’ strong finish to the season has helped interim coach Sam Mitchell’s case to land the permanent job, and now some of the team’s most important pieces are voicing their support for him as well.
On the day before the Wolves wrapped up a 12th straight season without a playoff berth, Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns were among those who stumped for Mitchell’s return next season.
Mitchell was thrust into the head coaching job just days before the season after Flip Saunders died after battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Following a rocky January, Mitchell made several key adjustments, has had a big role in developing the team’s copious young talent and has the Wolves finishing with a sense of momentum.
“I talked with him the most out of all the assistants,” Wiggins told reporters at the team’s final practice of the season on Tuesday. “And this year he was the head coach, so I already had that relationship with him. So it’s good.”
The Wolves won three straight games on the road last week, including an overtime victory at Golden State, which is on the cusp of setting the single-season record for victories with 73. Those good feelings were spoiled on Monday night with a blowout home loss to the Houston Rockets in which they trailed by as many as 33 points, but a 14-17 record over the last six weeks has helped Mitchell’s cause.