Saunders immediately started the treatment process with a medical team at Mayo Clinic, the Timberwolves said.
Advertisement
Doctors say Flip Saunders’ Hodgkin’s lymphoma is “very treatable”.
Saunders has still been able to attend all of his team duties since starting treatment following his diagnosis eight weeks ago, which came after an examination by the team’s doctor Sheldon Burns, and will continue to do so as his treatment progresses.
“I am taking it step-by-step and day-by-day to understand how to best manage this process”, Saunders wrote.
Saunders plans to remain as the Timberwolves’ head coach and top executive while being treated.
Saunders is in his second run as Timberwolves head coach. “I also know that God has prepared me to fight this battle”, he added.
Fired at 25-26 in February 2005, Saunders took over the Pistons the following season in the wake of predecessor Larry Brown’s two trips to the Finals.
After coaching stints in both Detroit and Washington, Flip returned to the Wolves in May of 2013 as president of basketball operations and part owner. Last year, he replaced the retired Rick Adelman on the Wolves bench and the team finished 16-66.
Advertisement
Back in 1988, Saunders began his CBA coaching career with the Rapid City Thrillers.
