Chris Finch didn't get much of a chance to coach Malik Beasley after he took the Timberwolves job midseason.
Shortly after Finch arrived, the NBA suspended Beasley 12 games following Beasley's guilty plea to threats of violence stemming from a Sept. 2020 incident outside his home, an incident for which he served time in jail this summer on work release.
Then Beasley hurt his hamstring in early April and missed the rest of the season.
But Finch is familiar with Beasley from Beasley's rookie year, the one year he spent as an assistant in Denver, and where the Wolves will play their second preseason game Friday.
Finch said Beasley's approach to being a professional player has changed the most since he coached
"He's such a great worker. I think he's really learned that," Finch said. "When we had him in Denver, his work was probably a little more inconsistent and misapplied. Like a lot of guys when they're young, they're hungry to prove themselves, frustrated when they don't get their opportunity. They let that affect them.
"He's gone through that now. You can tell he's comfortable with who he is as a player, what his role and impact on the floor is and just his maturity and overall approach is that of a young vet."
Beasley had the best year of his career when he was on the court. He averaged 19.6 points in 37 games and shot 40% from three-point range, an important number to help keep heat off Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards and D'Angelo Russell on the offensive end.