Timberwolves' LaVine shares fond memories of late coach Saunders
The Minnesota Timberwolves enter Wednesday's season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers with heavy hearts following the passing of head coach and president Flip Saunders on Sunday.
During the team's shootaround Wednesday, second-year guard Zach LaVine was asked to offer up one of his most cherished memories of Saunders, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in August.
“One of my favorite (memories) is right when I got drafted, we went to this little place called Murray’s Steakhouse with me and my family,” LaVine said, according to FoxSports.com's Jovan Buha. “He pulled this little piece of paper out of his pocket - it was right when I got drafted - and it said my name on it."
“He said, ‘We were going with you all the way. You had a great workout for us. I respect your work ethic and your confidence. I feel like you’re going to be a home run in this draft. I see superstar potential in you. We’re going to make you a great player.’”
Entering the NBA as a 19-year-old first-rounder, LaVine appreciated the faith Saunders had in him to one day become a big name on the pro level.
"It was really, really cool to see somebody have that confidence in me,” LaVine said. “I had confidence in myself, but seeing somebody else who had the confidence ... From there we sat down and ate dinner and he did a couple magic tricks. It was just an awesome day.”
LaVine mentioned how Saunders would perform a magic trick by pulling a Wolves-branded coin from behind his ear. Saunders gave the coin to LaVine, which the UCLA alumnus keeps in a drawer in his house.
“He said, ‘If I walk up to you anytime and you have that coin on you, I’ll give you some money or something,’” LaVine added.
The timing of Saunders' passing didn't give LaVine and his teammates much time to grieve. While not projected to win many games, the Timberwolves will use the upcoming season as a means to honor his memory.
“I’m going to miss him a lot,” LaVine said. “That was my first coach and the dude that believed in me. It’s tragic, man. But we’re definitely going to keep that memory alive.”