Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Minnesota Timberwolves president and head coach Flip Saunders discloses that he has been battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma after being diagnosed with the illness two months ago.

The Timberwolves announced Tuesday that coach Flip Saunders has a “treatable and curable form of cancer” and will continue with his duties. Saunders made his return to the sideline for Minnesota in 2014, once again adding head coaching duties to his responsibilities as an executive.

Saunders alongside his point guard, Ricky Rubio.

Taylor said Saunders is not expected to be away from the team once the season starts in October. He coached the Wolves to eight straight playoff appearances from 1997 to 2004, but was fired in February 2005 when a team coming off a Western Conference finals appearance had accumulated just a 25-26 record. In 1994, he joined Sioux Falls Skyforce as the head coach as well as general manager and team president. He is being treated at the Mayo Clinic.

Hired by the Wizards in 2009-10, Saunders’ and the organization’s ambitions to contend in the East fizzled after the infamous Gilbert Arenas-Javaris Crittenton locker-room gun incident. That resulted in the Timberwolves selecting Karl-Anthony Towns No. 1 to join an exciting young core headlined by Andrew Wiggins.

Saunders didn’t stop there, adding European player Nemanja Bjelica and longtime National Basketball Association veteran Andre Miller to the roster this summer.

His treatment is being overseen by a medical team from Mayo Clinic.

We wish him nothing but the best in his recovery.