Minnesota Timberwolves Coach Flip Saunders Dies at 60

Saunders was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in June and stepped down from his roles with the Timberwolves in September to receive treatment.

Saunders' illness did not appear terminal when he first went public with his condition in August, calling it a "very treatable and curable form of cancer".

In May 2013, Taylor brought Saunders back to be the Wolves' president of basketball operations.

It's not an overstatement to say that the Chauncey Billups we know today might never have existed had it not been for Flip Saunders.

His National Basketball Association teams won 50 or more games on seven occasions, including a Pistons franchise-record 64 victories in 2005-06.

After leaving Minnesota Saunders went on to have success as a coach with the Detroit Pistons from 2005 to 2008 but struggled with a rebuilding Washington Wizards team from 2009 to 2012.

Marbury spent three seasons in Minnesota before asking to be traded prior to the 1999 season.

Saunders, who was 60, was also the team's president of basketball operations.

Saunders was a high school star in Ohio before becoming a four-year starter at point guard for the University of Minnesota from 1973-77. He won't forget moments away from the court, on plane flights, times he said Sunday helped him to decide he, too, wanted to coach first at Iowa State and now with the Bulls.

Saunders is survived by his wife, Debbie, son Ryan and daughters Mindy, Rachel and Kimberly. But he belied his reputation Sunday in a stirring tribute to Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders.

The two remained friends through Saunders's stints with Washington and Minnesota.

"Saunders is by a lopsided margin the winningest coach in franchise history - with a 654-592 record in almost 11 full seasons - and is the only man to coach the team into the playoffs..."

"Flip's passion, love and knowledge of the game shined throughout his life as a player, coach and executive spanning all levels of basketball". Saunders' death comes just days after a turn for the worse in his health prompted the Timberwolves to announce their head coach would not return to the bench this season.

Izzo and Saunders played against one another in college, when Saunders was at Minnesota and Izzo was at Northern Michigan. "Outstanding basketball mind, but more importantly an outstanding person, class and quality". James' team-mate Kevin Love, who played under Saunders in Minnesota, also reacted on Twitter.

Timberwolves associate head coach Sam Mitchell was promoted to interim coach last week. You had a great impact on my life personally and professionally.