The Timberwolves have announced plans for a Flip Saunders Night at Target Center on Thursday, Feb. 15. That is the night the Wolves host the Los Angeles Lakers at 8 p.m.
Center to the evening will be the unveiling of a permanent banner at the Arena to honor the memory of Saunders, the former team coach and executive. There will also be a donation by the Timberwolves Fast Break Foundation to the Flip Saunders Legacy Fund. Fans who attend the game will get a Flip Saunders commemorative coin. It was a Saunders tradition during his tenure with the team to create a new team coin each season for players and front office staff, then randomly give them to people he would encounter.
Saunders had an overall record of 427-392 in 12 seasons over two stings with the Wolves. His first stint, from 1995 to 2005, including eight straight appearances in the playoffs, including a drive to the NBA's Western Conference in the spring of 2004. He returned in 2013 as president of basketball operations, adding coaching duties starting with the 2014-15 season. Saunders was also head coach in Detroit (2005-08) and Washington Wizards (2009-11).
"Minnesota has always been our family's home,'' Debbie Saunders said in a release sent out by the team. "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.''
