Wolves carry memories of Saunders back on the court
With their season opener just two days away, the Minnesota Timberwolves returned to practice Monday, following the death of coach and team president Flip Saunders.
General Manager Milt Newton said it was the most fitting way to remember a man who did so much for the team. "The best way for us to honor him is to compete, play hard and leave it on the floor," he said. "And that's what we've continually told our team, and that's what I believe that they will do."
Saunders was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in June. His doctors said it was treatable, but complications arose, and Saunders began a leave of absence from the team last month.
Saunders started his NBA coaching career with the Timberwolves in 1995. He was fired a decade later but returned in 2013 as president of basketball operations to help rebuild the struggling franchise.
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Players and managers all remembered Saunders as a class act, both on and off the court.
"We lost our point guard," said Karl-Anthony Towns, the 19-year-old rookie center brought aboard as the Wolves' No. 1 draft pick this year. "We lost the person who runs this whole machine."
Tyus Jones, also a rookie, is another player Saunders brought on as part of his rebuilding effort. Jones said he was playing for Apple Valley High School when he first met Saunders.
"He's always been a down-to-earth, genuine guy," Jones said. "He's always been one to give you advice and to mean everything he says."
Tayshaun Prince also joined the Timberwolves this year. He first worked with Saunders a decade ago when Saunders coached the Detroit Pistons.
Prince recalled a time when he was running a youth basketball camp at Wayne State University. One day the coach showed up out of the blue and started doing magic tricks for the kids.
Prince said that everyday joyfulness was quintessential Flip Saunders.
"You should have seen those kids' faces for the 30 to 45 minutes that he was just showing them magic tricks, and talking to them and teaching them the game of basketball — just that fun-loving guy that he was," Prince said.
Funeral arrangements for Saunders are pending. The Timberwolves open their season on the road against the L.A. Lakers on Wednesday.