MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Timberwolves president and coach Flip Saunders said he’s being treated for Hodgkin lymphoma, and his doctors consider it “very treatable and curable.”
Saunders was diagnosed with a cancer of the immune system two months ago and has been undergoing chemotherapy. He plans to remain as the Timberwolves head coach and top executive while being treated.
“I am taking it step by step and day by day to understand how to best manage this process,” Saunders said Tuesday in a statement.
The 60-year-old Saunders returned to the Timberwolves as team president in 2013. Last year, he replaced the retired Rick Adelman on the Wolves bench and the team finished 16-66.
Even while undergoing treatment, Saunders remained active with the team, overseeing draft workouts, selecting Karl-Anthony Towns at No. 1 overall and trading for Tyus Jones on draft night in June.
“Flip has kept me apprised of his cancer diagnosis and treatment,” owner Glen Taylor said. “He has my support as well as my thoughts and prayers for him and his family.”
The former University of Minnesota standout coached the Timberwolves for 10 years before being fired in 2005, leading the long-suffering franchise to its only real playoff success. Taylor brought him back as team president two years ago to try to get the organization back on track, and he’s helped infuse the roster with promising young players including Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine and Shabazz Muhammad while convincing Kevin Garnett to sign a two-year contract.
The moves have energized a fan base that hasn’t had a team in the playoffs since 2004, and Saunders made it clear he has no plans of slowing down.
“I am attacking this with the same passion I do everything in my life, knowing this is a serious issue,” he said. “I also know that God has prepared me to fight this battle.”
Thumbnail photo via Brad Rempel/USA TODAY Sports Images
