Phil “Flip” Saunders Dies At Age 60 After Cancer Battle

Phil “Flip” Saunders, who had successful head coaching tenures with NBA teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards, died on Sunday after losing his battle to cancer on Sunday. He was 60 years old.

Saunders was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in June after coming back to the Timberwolves to not only be head coach but also as president of basketball operations. In early September, the Timberwolves announced that Saunders would not coach this season due to complications with the disease. Doctors also stated that the disease was “very treatable and curable” and that Saunders would remain at his post before complications arose.

In his career as a head coach, Saunders went 654-592 as his career overall record, which started with him coaching the Timberwolves in 1996, leading them to eight straight playoff appearances and building one of the NBA’s most prolific players in Kevin Garnett. After being fired in 2005, he coached the Pistons to three straight conference finals championship and a less but still prosperous three-year outing with the Wizards. He returned to the Timberwolves in a rebuild stage in acquiring Kevin Love and drafting Andrew Wiggins who are destined to be greats in the NBA’s future.

Many players and coaches took to social media to remember Saunders and his endless contribution to the NBA and the game of basketball.

Flip you were one of a kind. Great basketball mind and even better human being. You had a great impact on my life personally and professionally. RIP my friend. Prayers are with the Saunders family during this time.

A photo posted by @kevinlove on Oct 25, 2015 at 11:26am PDT

Article by Ryan Kappy