Flip Saunders, T-Wolves Coach dies at 60

Flip Saunders, president of basketball operations, co-owner, and coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves passed away at the age of 60 today. He was being treated for Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer. Saunders was diagnosed in August and the team announced that he would be missing the 2015-16 NBA season after he experienced complications from the chemotherapy he was undergoing.

Throughout his illustrious career, Saunders managed to secure over 1,000 wins as a coach. Flip got his first crack at an NBA coaching job with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1996. He then proceeded to lead the franchise to eight straight Playoff appearances. After being fired by Minnesota in 2005, he moved to the Detroit Pistons which he led to the conference finals for three seasons. He then spent three years with the Washington Wizards, before finally returning to Minnesota in 2013 as part-owner and president.

One of his most memorable accomplishments is the mark he left on an impressionable young talent out high school, who would go on to become a league MVP and NBA champion, Kevin Garnett.