Chris Finch has been announced as the new Minnesota Timberwolves head coach.

The 51-year-old, who was serving as Nick Nurse's assistant at the Toronto Raptors, has more than 24 years of NBA and G League experience.

Minnesota dismissed Ryan Saunders on Sunday after a loss to the New York Knicks saw the Western Conference's bottom-placed team slip to a 7-24 record, following only one win in their past nine games.

With a reputation as one of the most innovative minds in the game, Finch has previously worked with stars including Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, James Harden, Nikola Jokic, Zion Williamson and Kyle Lowry.

After making his name in Europe and the D-League, the Ohio native was given his NBA break as an assistant in 2011 by the Houston Rockets, where he served for five years, before moving on to an associate head coach role alongside Mike Malone with the Denver Nuggets.

After one season in Colorado in 2016-17, Finch spent three years as the New Orleans Pelicans associate head coach with Alvin Gentry, before reuniting with Nurse in Toronto. Nurse was Finch's assistant with the Great Britain national team between 2009 and 2012.

"Chris brings a wealth of basketball experience from his time in the NBA, G League and Internationally," said Timberwolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas.

"He is one of the most creative basketball minds in the NBA, has success maximising players, and I am excited to see him bring our team to the next level and beyond."