Kevin Garnett, Stephon Marbury and more mourn the late, great Flip Saunders
The death of Minnesota Timberwolves head coach and team president Flip Saunders at age 60 after a battle with Hodgkin lymphoma sent shockwaves through the NBA on Sunday, as players, coaches, journalists and scores of others in the basketball world struggled to get their arms around the passing of a fighter who, as Yahoo Sports senior NBA writer Michael Lee put it, “had a way about him that made you believe what he said.”
The memorials and outpourings of grief have continued. Perhaps the most poignant tribute came from Kevin Garnett, who developed into an MVP and one of the greatest players in league history under Saunders’ watch during the decade they spent together in the Twin Cities, and whose return to Minnesota earlier this year came after Saunders sold him on the poetry of ending his career where he began it two decades ago:
From Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press:
Saunders went 654-592 in 17 NBA seasons with the Timberwolves,Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards. But his best days came in Minnesota, where he nurtured Kevin Garnett from a teenager who jumped straight from high school to the NBA in 1995 and helped turn the woeful Wolves into a perennial playoff team.
The Timberwolves had started to practice on Sunday when [general manager Milt] Newton got word from [owner Glen] Taylor of Saunders’ death. Practice was halted and a devastated Garnett left the floor, walked to the parking garage at the practice facility and sat down in the spot marked for Saunders. He posted a picture of the moment on his Facebook page with the message ”Forever in my heart …”
Garnett’s former Timberwolves teammate, Stephon Marbury, also bid an emotional farewell to Flip, expressing condolences to the Saunders family and appreciation for the coach’s contributions to his understanding of, well, everything:
The caption of Marbury’s Instagram post:
My heart and all of my love goes out to Flip Saunders Family as your leader leaves this earth in the flesh. His spirit lives in the present as we speak. In 1996 Flip became a father figure and my first #NBA coach. Wow how fast time blows by. Our conversations were so meaningful in ways that helped me understand the game of life by explaining the game of basketball.
Your kind soul and loving ways helped me understand how to play the most important position in the sport of basketball. You gave me not only the chance to perform at a high level but a chance to communicate my thoughts on the game. You taught me how to play the pick and roll but you also taught me how to pick up and roll with the good and bad in the life. As a rookie we had so many conversations in such a short time period. You said “The point guard has to be the extension to the coach” These words lived inside of me as I’ve had my share of ups and downs with coaches. I guess when I left you I went on a journey to end up with a similar coach 7,000 miles away.
I thank you for giving me my foundation in how to play the professional way. I thank you for giving me unconditional love as if I was your son when I was so young. It was so needed as KG and I needed all of it to get where we are now. What an impact you’ve had on so many humans on earth. What a father you’ve been to your children as I can remember Ryan aka RyeKnow when he was a little boy. We will miss you as a piece of your children’s hearts have been taken but we will celebrate you forever. Thank God that love is the most powerful thing to give and receive. The love from all will be shared to help the healing process from the pain of your flesh not being present. I know you will RIP because you did all of what you did on earth in your lifeline. I say#FlipForever as we all grow from your teachings and messages. I LOVE YOU and I’ll miss you until we meet again.#LoveisLove
P.S As for your amazing Wife Debbie and girls Mindy, Rachel, and Kimberly thank you for sharing your dad with all the people who’s lives your dad touched. I can feel your pain because I know your love for your dad. I pray for peace in your heart.
Several other point guards Saunders coached — whether for many years or mere months — expressed similar affection for their fallen coach, who famously described point men as “delivered from heaven.”
John Wall began his NBA career under Saunders and played for him with the Washington Wizards for parts of two seasons before developing into the All-Star lead guard he is today. He struck a solemn note on Saunders’ passing, which came just one week after he’d participated in a fundraising walk for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in memory of his young friend Damiyah “Miyah” Telemaque-Nelson, who died last December after fighting Burkitt lymphoma:
“The sting of losing another loved one to cancer doesn’t get any easier,” Wall wrote in the caption of his Instagram post. “My thoughts & prayers are with the Saunders &Twolves family. Coach Saunders guided me into this league, he believed in me and taught me what it takes to be a good player and a better man. RIP Coach.”
Wall’s sentiments were echoed by former Wizards teammate Shaun Livingston. Three years after the catastrophic knee injury that could have ended Livingston’s career at the tender age of 21, Saunders gave him a shot with the 2009-10 Wizards. Livingston parlayed that into a starting job and proved to the league he could still play, setting him on the path to becoming a contributor on the Golden State Warriors club that won the NBA championship last season.
Wolves starter Ricky Rubio felt that same belief and trust, even as he’s suffered through the ups and downs of a career that has featured multiple injuries and shooting struggles:
“Today, the guy who believed in me since day 1 passed away,” Rubio wrote. “He was all smiles passionate and really loved this game. He gave everything to the Timberwolves and did amazing things for us. He was our leader. Really gonna miss you coach. RestInPeace Flip.”
While he didn’t have as much time under Saunders as the veterans sharing their condolences, Timberwolves rookie Tyus Jones — a Minnesota native — never forgot the salute Flip sent his way back before he made his way to Mike Krzyzewski at Duke:
Jones will look to make the kind of impact in his first pro season that Andrew Wiggins did last year after Saunders snagged him from the Cleveland Cavaliers in the trade that sent former franchise cornerstone Kevin Love to Ohio. Cleveland selected Wiggins with the first pick in the 2014 NBA draft, but almost immediately found himself on the trade block; he said he just wanted to play for a team that wanted him. Saunders wanted him, and Wiggins rewarded his trust by winning Rookie of the Year honors and positioning himself as one of the league’s brightest rising stars in what, sadly, was his lone season under Flip.
“It was an honor and privilege to be coached and mentored by one of the most kind hearted and caring person in this world,” Wiggins wrote. “You believed in me so much especially when you brought me over to Minnesota and saw my potential to be special in this league, for that I am forever grateful. I love you and will miss you RIP FLIP until we meet again.”
While Love ultimately landed in Cleveland on the other end of that trade, he still expressed fond feelings for Saunders, who rejoined the Timberwolves as president of basketball operations in May 2013, just before Love embarked on an All-Star 2013-14 campaign:
“Flip you were one of a kind,” Love wrote. “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.”
Saunders’ loss “has left a gaping hole in the fabric of our league,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement issued Sunday. “Flip was a beloved figure around the NBA, nowhere more so than in Minnesota, demonstrating a genuine and consistent passion for his players, his team and the game.”
The tributes to Saunders will continue on the sidelines throughout the 2015-16 NBA season. Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle, president of the National Basketball Coaches Association, said Sunday that coaches will wear lapel pins this season to honor Saunders’ memory.
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Dan Devine is an editor for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
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