Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders has died of cancer at the age of 60, according to reports from ESPN and other media outlets. Saunders was hospitalized last month while being treated for Hodgkin's lynphoma.
Saunders, who had 654 victories as an NBA head coach, announced back in August that he was being treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma. At the time, the cancer was described as "treatable and curable" and Saunders said he expected to be with the Timberwolves this season. Saunders served as head coach and president of basketball operations and he was later hospitalized in September.
The Timberwolves announced on Friday that Saunders would be out for the season and on Sunday news broke that Saunders passed away after battling with the disease. Saunders served as head coach for the Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons as well as the Washington Wizards and he previously had his best run with the Wolves during the 2000s with Kevin Garnett.
Saunders came back to the Wolves after being with the Pistons and Wizards in 2013 and he helped build the current roster. Saunders helped put together the Kevin Love for Andrew Wiggins trade and he previously won at least 50 games in a season as a head coach seven times. According to ESPN.com, "Saunders is survived by a wife and four children, including son Ryan, who is a Wolves assistant coach."