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In October 2015, former coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves Flip Saunders passed away. He had an illustrious career, collecting two NBA All Star coaching appearances and leading the Pistons and Timberwolves to separate franchise-record victories.
Players loved Saunders and were shocked of his passing from Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which he suffered from for a large portion of the 2014-15 season.
He was a prominent figure in the lives of the athletes he coached, with Stephon Marbury referring to Saunders as a “father figure” because of his ability to combine his knowledge of life and the game of basketball.
While the Timberwolves have former NBA Coach of Year Sam Mitchell filling in as temporary head coach, this appointment shouldn’t last past this season.
As for the long-term future, who better to replace Saunders than 21-year veteran and 13-year Timberwolves player Kevin Garnett.
Saunders was destined to bring Kevin on as an assistant coaching staff or grant him a spot in the front office after Garnett’s last season in the NBA.
While Garnett admits he bleeds green – thanks to his tenure with the Boston Celtics – he will always have love for Minnesota, and would presumably be honored to coach the franchise that drafted him fifth overall in 1995.
Garnett is known for his excessive animation, relentless competitiveness, and uninterrupted motor. If he can translate that to coaching and instil into his players a similar mindset, then Garnett will be a successful coach.
Additionally, recently drafted big man Karl Towns Jr can learn under the tutelage of this esteemed coach. Garnett came into the NBA as a 19-year-old out of Farragut Career Academy in Chicago, so he understands the challenges of being young in the NBA. He would be capable of giving players the same fatherly advice Marbury received from Saunders.
What better gift could Garnett give the Timberwolves and Flip Saunders than filling the vacant head coaching spot.
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