The Minnesota Timberwolves held a stirring ceremony before their home opener Monday evening to honor the life of coach and team president Flip Saunders.
A tribute to the man who started it all… #ForFlip pic.twitter.com/Vclm6L3jQ5
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) November 3, 2015
Saunders died last Sunday at the age of 60 from complications of Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Greats from all across the game of basketball spoke during Saunders’ tribute video, including Larry Bird, Pat Riley, Phil Jackson and his longtime friend and Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo.
Some of the list for Flip Tribute: Kenny Smith, Van Gundy, Riley, Rivers, P. Jackson, Cassell, Kevin Love, Poppovich, Bird, Hoiberg, Izzo…
— Aj Mansour (@AjKFAN) November 3, 2015
Several Wolves players and general manager Milt Newton also made comments about Saunders and what he’s done for them.
https://twitter.com/DerekJamesNBA/status/661349794632323072
KAT: "I'm going to keep your vision alive." Rubio: "You put everything together here. You are the man."
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) November 3, 2015
Milt Newton: "I love you, too. Rest in peace." Man.
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) November 3, 2015
In addition to the video tribute, singer Tim Mahoney and Sounds of Blackness gave a musical performance that drew tears from fans and players.
This embed is invalid
Fans were also encouraged to write about their memories and reflections of Saunders on a memorial wall at Target Center.
Fans wrote messages on the memorial wall for Flip Saunders at Mayo Clinic Square. #Twolves @StribSports pic.twitter.com/CWnjcRG4Xa
— Carlos Gonzalez (@CarlosGphoto) November 3, 2015
remembering late #twolves coach Flip Saunders (2/2) pic.twitter.com/8iWXUV0jQc
— bengarvin (@bengarvin) November 3, 2015
.@FirstAvenue salutes #twolves' late coach Flip Saunders pic.twitter.com/BVkRf7jUUt
— bengarvin (@bengarvin) November 3, 2015
But it was an old quote from Saunders himself that summed up everything the best and demonstrated the love that Saunders had for his adopted home state.
Flip – “The loyalty, the passion that people have here that’s what brought me to Minnesota. Unless you’re from MN you don’t really get it."
— Aj Mansour (@AjKFAN) November 3, 2015
