Minnesota Timberwolves head coach, president and part owner Flip Saunders will be sidelined for the 2015-2016 NBA season due to complications in his recovery from cancer.

Saunders, 60, was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in June and had been hospitalized since September after a setback in his recover. Initially, all involved believed Saunders would be able to return in time for the start of the season, but as T-Wolves owner Glen Taylor tells the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

“Not this year. I just think his illness, I mean, it’s serious. At this point, if he came back I’d still think he’d have a hard time to recover all his energy and all that because he has been in the hospital for a long time”

Saunders and the T-wolves acted swiftly in naming Sam Mitchell interim head coach. Mitchell played for Saunders from 1995-2002, mentoring a then up and coming superstar in Kevin Garnett, then went on and had a steady coaching career. Mitchell’s last head coaching stint was at the helm of the Toronto Raptors from 2004-2008. Now Mitchell and a veteran Garnett will be called upon to lead a young and talented group of players led by 2015 rookie of the year, Andrew Wiggins, Slam Dunk Champion Zach Lavine and number one overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft, Karl-Anthony Towns.

No timetable has been set for Saunders return, but we wish him a speedy recovery, in hopes to see him back on the sidelines in the near future.

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Source: Minnesota Star Tribune