At the time of his death, Saunders served as the Timberwolves’ head coach and president of basketball operations, although the team revealed Friday that, following a setback in Saunders’ cancer battle, he would miss the upcoming 2015-16 season, ESPN reports.
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But by the time the game rolled around earlier this month, Saunders’ fight with Hodgkin lymphoma had forced him away from the Timberwolves.
The second offer came from longtime AD Joel Maturi, who looked at Saunders as his dream hire to replace Dan Monson in 2007. Saunders touched many lives during his 35-year coaching career, including Donovan’s. Born Philip Daniel Saunders, he had been a player in his youth before becoming a coach. The 6-foot-11 forward spent the majority of his career playing for Saunders and reportedly left the Wolves practice devastated when he heard of Saunders’ passing.
“Sending prayers to the family of @Timberwolves Flip Saunders”. After that, the Wolves didn’t have a losing record till the 04-05 season. It was under Saunders that Detroit fielded four all-stars, and he helped turn Chauncey Billups into one of the best point guards in the National Basketball Association. Which other franchises noticed and jumped at the chance to sign him when he became available.
The Timberwolves open the season Wednesday. His 654 victories rank 20th in league history.
Wrote Barnes on Instagram: “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised anymore when my interview or events in my life are taken & twisted up to make me look like an…” He is closely associated with Kevin Garnett, having coached the future Hall of Famer for his first 10 seasons in Minnesota.
I can only imagine what was/is going through the mind of man many believe is a true warrior. “Told him I was sorry I didn’t get to see him face to face”. We all are wondering that KG, especially when were told that this was curable. Many individuals have fought and continue to fight courageous battles against a disease that knows no age, gender, or color.
He took a leave of absence from the team in September after experiencing complications from his treatments including chemotherapy. However, it’s something that will be looked into, to find out what happened. In 2014 he retook the reigns as head coach. It’s just very bad how this whole thing went down.
“I love the guy”, Izzo said.
You didn’t have to truly know Flip Saunders to get a sense of his humanity.
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If you have a problem with this tribute for being self serving, you really have to blame the existence of social media. “Tremendous loss… gone too soon.” – music producer Jimmy “Jam” Harris.
