30 Greatest Moments In Timberwolves History
By Ben Beecken
Oct 10, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders talks to the media after the game with the Philadelphia 76ers at Target Center. The Timberwolves win 116-110. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
#20 – Flip Saunders Returns to the Timberwolves
Flip Saunders is, by far, the winningest coach in Timberwolves history. Before returning to the organization as an executive and minority owner in the off-season following the 2012-13 season, Saunders had already won 411 games with the Wolves and 638 wins overall as an NBA head coach.
He spent one season in the front office, wheeling and dealing around the league including on draft night in June of 2013 and all the while spinning positivity and hope in the Twin Cities media.
To cynics, it was owner Glen Taylor falling victim to hiring the same-old, same-old, comfortable option. Saunders didn’t have a good record as a front office/personnel man, save for the co-decision made along with Kevin McHale to draft one Kevin Garnett back in 1995. There wasn’t much reason to think that he could turn the Wolves fortunes around, but familiarity bred hope for a number of fans.
And not only that, Saunders was one of a couple of faces that represented the only truly successful season and the sustained but limited success the franchise has ever had, along with Garnett. So it was a nostalgic but yet hopeful move to bring Saunders back into the fold.
While Saunders did a great job in the two-plus years on the job before his tragic death this past fall, he did not get the chance to finish what he had begun to build. Time will tell just how good of a job he did in assembling the current roster.
Next: #19 - Kevin Garnett Single-Handedly Beats The Kings