Kevin Garnett posts touching tribute to late coach Flip Saunders

Flip Saunders, who was the coach, part owner and head of basketball operations at the Minnesota Timberwolves, passed away on Sunday after a battle with cancer.

His death over the weekend caught many by surprise, and lead to widespread expressions of condolence and grief within the NBA.

Saunders was well liked by everyone that he came in contact with, and was remarkably successful too, but as evidenced by the flood of tributes that poured in after the news broke, he touched the hearts and minds of almost every person who worked with him.

One of the players Saunders brought in for his debut season in the league in 1995/96 was Kevin Garnett, who recently returned to the Timberwolves when he learned that Flip would be involved again as head coach. He even waived the no trade clause in his contract to return to his former team, and judging by the tribute he posted to his former coach, Saunders was a major part of that decision.

Garnett was not the only player posting tributes to Saunders either, with many of the biggest names on and off the court sharing their feelings about the untimely passing of a true great of the game.

In a world where I don't like a lot of people, Flip Saunders was actually a person that I liked. Gone way too soon. May he rest in peace.

— Skip Bayless (@FunSkipBayless) October 25, 2015

 

Flip you were one of a kind. Great basketball mind and even better human being. You had a great impact on my life personally and professionally. RIP my friend. Prayers are with the Saunders family during this time.

A photo posted by @kevinlove on Oct 25, 2015 at 11:26am PDT

My condolences to the Saunders and @Timberwolves family! Lost a great person in our fraternity way to early. So sad #RIPFlip

— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 25, 2015

Rest in Paradise Coach Flip. I didn't personally know him, but the effect he had on the game and many players lives that have come before me

— Kyrie Irving (@KyrieIrving) October 25, 2015

Will be everlasting. #RestinPeace

— Kyrie Irving (@KyrieIrving) October 25, 2015

Via Uproxx

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