Flip Saunders was a highly successful basketball coach who spent over two decades in the NBA. He began his career as an assistant coach for the University of Minnesota in the 1980s before moving on to become the head coach of the Continental Basketball Association's Rapid City Thrillers in 1988. Saunders quickly made a name for himself in the CBA, leading the Thrillers to two championships in three seasons.

In 1995, Saunders was hired as the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves. He quickly turned the struggling franchise around, leading them to eight consecutive playoff appearances from 1997 to 2004. During his tenure with the Timberwolves, Saunders coached some of the NBA's biggest stars, including Kevin Garnett, Stephon Marbury, and Latrell Sprewell.

After leaving the Timberwolves in 2005, Saunders spent time as a television analyst before returning to coaching in 2009 as the head coach of the Washington Wizards. He spent two seasons with the Wizards before being fired in 2012.

In 2013, Saunders was hired as the president of basketball operations for the Timberwolves. He held this position until 2014, when he was named the team's head coach once again. Saunders was in the midst of rebuilding the Timberwolves when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in August 2015.

Despite undergoing treatment for his illness, Saunders continued to work with the Timberwolves until his death in October 2015. He was remembered by players, coaches, and fans alike as a beloved figure in the basketball world who had a profound impact on the game.

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