The Minnesota Timberwolves will forever be linked to Flip Saunders as he served the team as its head coach. This time, Karl-Anthony Towns and the Wolves are led by his son, Ryan. Towns and the team decided to make their head coach feel at home with a kind gesture.
Dane Moore revealed that their second game against the Charlotte Hornets is the death anniversary of the long-time coach. The details of the team's tribute would be enough to send plenty of emotions to the hearts of Wolves fans all over.
KAT snatched the game ball as soon as the final buzzer sounded to give to Ryan Saunders in the locker room.
In the locker room there was a sheet cake (Flip’s favorite) for Ryan, too.
They broke down the huddle “Flip!”
Flip Saunders passed away four years ago today.
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) October 26, 2019
Saunders was the team's head coach when the Wolves drafted him with the first overall pick in 2015. He was supposed to coach him through his first season in the league. However, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in August 2015 and eventually passed away on October 25, 2015.
Saunders was the Wolves' head coach for much of the Wolves' Kevin Garnett era. He's the winningest head coach in the Timberwolves history, winning 654 of the 126 games he led from the sidelines.
His son will be hoping to live up to the legacy he left and bring the Wolves to another era of prosperity under another great big man. As Twin Cities Pioneer Press' Jace Frederick reveals:
“You know this is what you want at some point in your career. I knew that pretty quick,” he said. “But I wanted to make sure it was done in the right way, where I didn’t skip steps.
“Having grown up with a dad who was a head coach, I understood that it was going to take a lot of work, a lot of confidence in yourself. But also you have to have confidence from other people to give you that opportunity. But you’ve got to earn it.”
This season will be an interesting watch for fans, and they will be eager to see how the team will fare under another Saunders once again.
Follow Us
Subscribe