Welshman Tim Lewis has joined the Minnesota Timberwolves as an assistant coach, aiming to help the team secure their first NBA title. Lewis, the first British-born coach in the NBA, will focus on offensive game planning and player development for some of the team's young big players.
Lewis has a long-standing friendship with Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch, having played against him and coached alongside him at the London 2012 Olympics. After a previous spell with Minnesota and three years as a head coach in Japan, Lewis returned to the Timberwolves this summer for a more influential role.
The Timberwolves have made significant moves in the off-season, acquiring Josh Green and LaMelo Ball in a four-team trade in July. Ball, who scored 272 three-pointers last season, is expected to form an exciting backcourt partnership with Anthony Edwards, which Lewis believes will make Rudy Gobert more of a rim threat and ease pressure on Edwards.
The team faces a challenging start to the season, with games against Miami Heat, Orlando, and Toronto. Despite concerns about the team's size at power forward, Lewis expressed confidence that Finch will adapt and that the team will be exciting to watch. The ultimate goal for the 2027 season is an NBA title, with Lewis stating that 50-plus wins are desired to contend for a top seed.