The Timberwolves hired Saunders as head coach the following year, and he led them to the best era in team history.
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Flip Saunders, the revered and long-tenured head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, died today.
Saunders, a veteran of 17 National Basketball Association seasons who posted a career record of 654-592, was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system, in June. The idea was for Saunders to remain president and coach of the Timberwolves, but a setback in September prompted him to abort those plans. Saunders announced in August that he was being treated for Hodgkin lymphoma.
Among those sad to hear the news was LeBron James, who tweeted, “My condolences to the Saunders and Timberwolves family!”
Wiggins seems to be comfortable with it though it remains to be seen if the T-Wolves will indeed adapt a big lineup for the regular season.
After 20 games into Flip’s first season as the GM of the team, he was asked to be the coach as well. You had to scour any random gym, basketball court, and driveway you came across in order to find the players who slipped through the cracks.
On a personal level, where I really became fond of Saunders was during his days with the Pistons. “So sad”, LeBron James tweeted. The Timberwolves made their only conference finals appearance under Saunders in 2004, and he led the Detroit Pistons to three straight conference finals from 2006 to 2008. He wanted to be there, witnessing this young Timberwolves team grow into the future of the West powerhouses.
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Saunders is survived by his wife, Debbie, and their four children. Saunders once dodged a tragedy in 2007, and we wish he could’ve showed cancer the door. His mother Kay nicknamed him Flip after hearing the name at a beauty salon. Flip was the head coach at the time.
