Fansided

Report: Flip Saunders unlikely to coach this season due to health concerns

By Stu White

Apr. 08, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders looks on during the first quarter of the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Apr. 08, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders looks on during the first quarter of the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Some sad news regarding Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders

According to Star Tribune NBA writer Jerry Zgoda, who spoke with Minnesota Timberwolves fans in a live-chat on Thursday, it is unlikely that Minnesota head coach/president of basketball operations Flip Saunders will coach the Timberwolves for the 2015-16 season.

As you probably recall, in August the Timberwolves revealed that Saunders is battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The initial plan was for Saunders to continue coaching the team while undergoing treatment, but Zgoda’s comments suggest that won’t be the case.

Here’s what Zgoda had to say in response to multiple questions about Flip’s health after briefly talking about his diagnosis:

"I doubt very much he’s back this year, it’s probably unlikely he coaches again just because of the stress inherent doing both those jobs and I think there’s a pretty good chance he doesn’t return full time to either job."

With Saunders indefinitely sidelined, the job of coaching the Timberwolves will fall to assistant coach Sam Mitchell. A ten-year player in Minnesota during his career, Mitchell has seen plenty of success in the coaching arena. After serving as an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks for two season, Mitchell took over head coaching duties for the Toronto Raptors in 2004. Under Mitchell’s guidance, the Raptors won their first division title in franchise history, and Mitchell was rewarded by being named the 2006-07 NBA Coach of the Year. Following his stint in Toronto, Mitchell served briefly as an assistant coach for the New Jersey Nets before he joined the Timberwolves in 2014.

But forget basketball for a moment: this situation very upsetting news on a human level. We wish the best for Saunders and his family, and we hope he’ll have a turnaround in health.

More from Minnesota Timberwolves

Home/Minnesota Timberwolves