Timberwolves to honor Flip Saunders with commemorative patch
The Minnesota Timberwolves will wear a commemorative patch on their jerseys during the 2015–16 season to honor former president of basketball operations and head coach Flip Saunders, who died on Sunday at age 60 after a battle with cancer.
The patch will debut on Nov. 2 when the Timberwolves take on the Portland Trail Blazers at the Target Center.
Players will also wear a gray warm-up shirt during all games through the month of November that reads “WE”, symbolizing “the togetherness of the team and its commitment to unity over individualism.” The shirt also reads “Flip” across the heart side of the shirt.
• Timberwolves’ Kevin Garnett pays tribute to coach Flip Saunders
Saunders coached 17 years in the NBA, joining the Timberwolves for his first NBA job in 1995. Saunders began a second coaching stint with the Timberwolves in June 2014, one year after becoming president of basketball operations.
The Cleveland native also coached the Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons. Saunders had a career mark of 654–594, with a 47–51 record in the playoffs. Saunders reached three conference finals with the Pistons, and led the Wolves to multiple 50-win seasons during his first stint with the team.
Former Toronto Raptors coach Sam Mitchell was named interim head coach for the season.
- Christopher Chavez
