Mitchell is an old-school guy. His interviews on the Dan Barreiro Show (KFAN Radio) are must listen. And when something is stuck in his craw, he likes to talk about it. That’s no different when he gets on live television for NBA TV. But this week… it was his co-host who had Mitchell steaming.

Sam Mitchell loses his mind on NBA TV co-host Chris Miles

About what you ask? Apparently he believes his on-air partner, Chris Miles, is making too much money, bragging about it behind the scenes, then “crying broke” on TV and “messing” with him when they go live.

With all of that bubbling underneath the surface inside NBA TV studios, all it took to set Mitchell off on one of the most cringeworthy rants in TV history was one poke of the bear, by Miles. When it was over, 1.5 minutes later he had even given out the address of his co-host’s rental property. There are captions in the video but I included the transcript below, anyway.

things get AWKWARD on national television between NBA analysts Sam Mitchell & Chris Miles after a money joke and he leaks his address! 😳

"i know what you have and where you live young fella"

here's the full exchange during Game Time on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/BhCs6j09Mi

— SOUND (@itsavibe) October 12, 2024

Miles: “I’m surprised coaches get a paycheck for this show. You think like maybe you should do it pro-bono?”

Mitchell: “My friend, the last time I looked at my paycheck, it was pretty close [to being $0]. I’m taking donations. Why don’t you come up off some of that money you got, since you over there bragging about it?”

Miles: “I’m not bragging about it.”

Mitchell: “I mean, oh I’m sorry, did you rip your beach house out from down in Florida during the hurricane? Or do I need to go on? How about your townhouse over at Buckhead?”

Miles: “Hey, what’s going on here, Sam?”

Mitchell: “You wanna call me out. I mean, come on! You screaming broke and hungry, let’s just see it. I know what you have an where you live young fella, so you need to stop.”

Miles: “I think we have snitches on the show today. and that’s Sam Mitchell.”

Mitchell: “No, we don’t have snitches. We have truth-tellers. So you’re the only one who’s crying poor, destitute up here, when…. do I need to keep going on further, more and more? Or do you want me to stop, right now? I told you, young fella [finger pointing], you need to stop messing with me on national TV. I don told you about that. Hey, do I need to give out your home address [broadcast cuts to rafter view from Seattle arena].”

Related: TV Distribution Changes Reportedly Coming for Minnesota Timberwolves Too…

Obviously, Sam Mitchell had warned Miles behind the scenes to stop doing all of the things that have been bothering him, especially “messing with him on national TV”, and his co-host didn’t take it seriously.

This entire 1.5 minute video is difficult to watch. He could have stopped 4-8 different times, but he just dives back in for more, every time. Some parts are kind of funny, you can tell there are probably more people in the studio beyond Mitchell who are sick of Miles’ stunts and behind-the-scenes personality.

Mitchell with the Minnesota Timberwolves

With the Timberwolves, Sam averaged 9.4 points per game, along with 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists. At 6’9″, Mitchell was a do-everything guy. He could guard bigger guys, when necessary, but also play out on the wing too. He might’ve had to develop a better 3-point shot, in today’s NBA. But he doesn’t play in today’s NBA, and I think he’s fine with that (other than the insane money).

Still, Mitchell obviously took it too far, and he’ll be punished because of it. Hopefully, Barreiro has him on to discuss what happened. That would be a must-listen follow up interview.

Karl’s also enjoying the game of basketball as much as anytime in his professional career. Last night, after putting up an easy 30 points and 8 rebounds in a win over LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, KAT sat down with NBA Game Time Live (NBA TV) and talked about just that.

One of the analysts on GameTime is Sam Mitchell, who played much of his career with the Wolves and coached the team during Towns’ rookie season (’15-’16). That’s the last time Karl enjoyed playing the game of basketball as much as he does right now. Don’t underestimate the effect Sam Mitchell had on Karl-Anthony Towns, or any of the other young Wolves (Wiggins, LaVine, etc), during that time. If you do, watch this clip of Towns appreciation for Mitchell. Sam Mitchell is left speechless buy KAT’s praise.

Karl-Anthony Towns left Sam Mitchell speechless last night. Said he hasn’t enjoyed basketball this much since Mitchell coached him as a rookie. pic.twitter.com/LQBCyYCOTw

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) March 17, 2022

Underrated, Underappreciated Sam Mitchell

When Sam Mitchell coached the Minnesota Timberwolves during that 2015-16 season, he was universally seen as a placeholder for whoever was going to be hired as the permanent replacement that offseason. Luring one of the NBA’s best free agent coaches wouldn’t be a problem because of all the young talent on that Wolves roster.

Sure enough, Glen Taylor handed the franchise keys to Tom Thibodeau that offseason, who turned around and traded Zach LaVine for Jimmy Butler just one year later. Zach and Karl are best friends and were even closer back then. Jimmy hated KAT. So it’s no surprise that Towns lost some of the joy he found in basketball during that time of his career.

In retrospect, we probably should have skipped the Thibs/Butler era. Leaving Sam Mitchell in place to nurture a much more patient rebuild may have been the better option. Not just because of his relationship with Towns and others, but because Mitchell was and is a great basketball and NBA mind. That’s something that shows every time he talks about the game.

No slight on Ryan Saunders

I don’t take KAT’s comments as a slight against Ryan Saunders. Karl-Anthony Towns lost his mom and other family members while Ryan was coaching the Minnesota Timberwolves. I’d imagine it was difficult for him to find joy in a lot of things during that time.

Yes, Ryan Saunders wasn’t ready to lead an NBA team when he was hired but the hiring was his fault. Taylor, then Rosas, put Ryan into a position that he was never going to be able to win. Now years removed from those difficult years, both on and off the floor, Karl-Anthony Towns seems primed for something special.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

The Minnesota Gophers men’s basketball team lost AGAIN on Saturday, this time to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. So, the freefall continues. Richard Pitino’s squad has now lost SEVEN straight games and 14 of their last 16. It’s been a complete freefall.

Since Richard has all but lost his job at this point, I’ve been blogging about possible replacements for the last few weeks. In total, MSF has presented SEVEN possible replacements for Pitino.

Still there is one coaching candidate we haven’t touched on. Sam Mitchell is well-known around the state of Minnesota and he is currently on the hunt for his next head coaching opportunity.

Fortunately, the Minnesota Gophers are in need of a new head basketball coach and Sam fits the molt perfectly.

I chatted with @DWolfsonKSTP for 40 minutes earlier this week about firing Richard Pitino… including some replacement options.

How about Sam Mitchell…. with Ryan Saunders on his bench? #Gophers pic.twitter.com/fbfk4pNwx4

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) March 4, 2021

Odds

Mitchell might not be a front-runner to land this job but he is my dark horse candidate.. Any local basketball fan knows the ties Sam has to this state.

After dominating his last final two playing seasons at Mercer College, Mitchell spent two years playing overseas, as he got his pro legs underneath him. But then in 1989, Sam was summoned back to the USA, to play for the start-up Minnesota Timberwolves in their debut 1989-90 season.

During two different stints, Sam Mitchell would play 10 of his 13 NBA seasons in a Wolves uniform. When his playing career came to an end, he was immediately hired by the Milwaukee Bucks, as an assistant. Two years later, at just 41-years-old, Mitchell was hired off the Bucks bench as the Toronto Raptors head coach.

Past NBA head coaching experience

Mitchell lasted a little over four seasons as head coach in Andrew Wiggins’ country (Toronto) and won NBA Coach of the year in 2006-07. Then, Sam landed back in Minnesota as an assistant coach in 2014-15, under Flip Saunders. After Flip’s tragic passing, Sam took over as head coach for one heartbreaking season (29-55).

Mitchell was fired by Glen Taylor after that season, who then hired Tom Thibodeau as Sam’s replacement. The rest is classic Timberwolves history.

As for Sam Mitchell, he’s been out of coaching work for a few years and isn’t making millions of dollars on the local Toronto TV broadcast scene. That makes him available, affordable and without a buyout.

But as Doogie and I discussed earlier this week, Sam Mitchell doesn’t just check a lot of boxes. He can coach and he can connect with young players. If he can grind on the recruiting trail and get the right assistant help, the career Timberwolf would be a great hire for the maroon and gold.

I can make a legit list that is 10-15 deep. The Dutcher MN out is very interesting. I'd like to know, and will dig, whether Muss has a similar out. If not, his buyout is $5M until April 30. Sam Mitchell would love the job. There's Medved, Smith, so many more names.

— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) February 28, 2021

Coaches of color

It’s 2021 and there’s no reason to beat around the bush on this topic. The basketball coaching community is looking for more black coaches. African Americans represent a massive percentage of pro basketball players in this country, but hold just a fraction of the coaching jobs available in both pro and college ranks.

Hiring coaches of color is an important drive for universities across the country. If the Minnesota Gophers want to become a more diverse athletic department, then Sam Mitchell makes even more sense.

He’s a great basketball coach with a proven track record and he’d become just one of two black coaches in the Big Ten, next to Juwan Howard. I would never want the Gophers to hire a coach for anything other than his chances at winning, but Sam Mitchell could win in Minnesota and check a bunch of other boxes in the process.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan