Timberwolves fire coach Rambis after finishing last

Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Kurt Rambis during an NBA game against the Indiana Pacers in this Feb. 11, 2011, photo.

NEW YORK — The Minnesota Timberwolves fired head coach Kurt Rambis after a last-place overall finish that stretched the struggling team’s playoff drought to seven seasons, the National Basketball Association team said Tuesday.

Rambis, who had two years left on his contract, posted a 32-132 record over two seasons with the Timberwolves, including a league-worst 17-65 mark last season.

“It is always hard to make these decisions. It is especially hard when it involves somebody of Kurt’s reputation,” David Kahn, Timberwolves president of basketball operations, said in a statement.

“Even so, this is the right time for us to make a head coaching change now that we’ve identified our roster and its specific needs.”

Rambis became the ninth coach of the Timberwolves in August 2009 after having been an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers for seven seasons.