Flip Saunders believes Kevin Love has no right to be frustrated

Apr 13, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love (42) runs up the court after scoring against the Sacramento Kings during the first quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 106-103. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

After six full seasons in the NBA and not a single playoff appearance on his resume, Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves has every right to be frustrated, correct?

This all dates back to 2012 when management decided to save their full five-year extension (under the new collective bargaining agreement) for point guard Ricky Rubio and not offer it to Love. The team failing to have a record above .500 since Love arrived is the icing on the cake.

Head coach and team president Flip Saunders recently spoke to KFAN 100.3 about Love. He believes his All-Star power forward has no right to be upset, via Dan Feldman of NBC Sports:

"Host: “Doesn’t he have a right to be frustrated?”Saunders: “No.”Host: “You don’t think so?”Saunders: “Just like I told Garnett, he didn’t have a right to be frustrated. Why does any player have a right to be frustrated? You’re either part of the problem or part of the solution.”Saunders: “Should the team be frustrated? Yeah, the team can be frustrated. But I don’t think any one individual should be frustrated.”Saunders: “I tell a story. I tell a story about – we were in the locker room when KG was in like his third year in the league, and Sam Mitchell was sitting in the locker room. KG was in there, and we had lost a couple games, and we were all sitting there talking. KG started going, ‘Hey, you’ve got to start doing more.’ And he’s talking to some of the bench guys. ‘You’ve got to start doing more.’ And Sam said, ‘Hey, hold it, hold it. Let me tell you something. You’re making all the money. Hey, it’s your responsibility. You make the money, you’ve got to live up to that.’ So, that was the mentality, and from that time, KG never ever from that point, he always took responsibility.”"

Love averaged a double-double of 26.1 points and 12.5 rebounds this past regular season. Rumors continue to circulate over the possibility of Love getting dealt before he can opt out of his current deal at the end of the 2014-15 season.

With comments like this, all Saunders is doing is pushing Love away.

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