The Minnesota Timberwolves announced their plans to honor Flip Saunders and hold a “Flip Saunders Night” at home on February 15, the same night the team is scheduled to face the Lakers.
The main event of the night will be the raising of a special Saunders banner that will hang in the rafters of the Target Center. Fans will receive a commemorative Flip Saunders coin, to continue a tradition Saunders began. The late head coach would make personalized coins and give them to members of the team as well as people he met.
The Timberwolves Fast Break Foundation is also scheduled to donate to the Flip Saunders Legacy Fund.
Saunders passed in October of 2015 after a bout with Leukemia. He was 60 years old at the time of his death. The former Timberwolves head coach had a close relationship with his organization and the NBA community. Wolves All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns, and Timberwolves legend Kevin Garnett have both expressed the adoration and respect they hold for Saunders.
Both the wife of Saunders, Debbie Saunders, and Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor commented on what this night means to them and the city of Minnesota.
“Minnesota has always been our family’s home,” said Debbie Saunders. “Flip not only had a passion for the Timberwolves but for basketball in the State of Minnesota. We are incredibly grateful to the Timberwolves for memorializing Flip in such a moving way and having his memory live on inside Target Center forever.”
“Flip meant so much to our organization as a coach, but he meant so much more to all of us as a friend,” Glen Taylor said. “His impact on our organization and what he meant to the Minnesota basketball community is something that will always be with us. It is appropriate that we honor the man who meant so much to us with of a banner in our home arena that will forever fortify his memory.”
