Great news: the Detroit Pistons former head coach has announced his return.
From 2005 to 2008, Flip Saunders led the Detroit Pistons to three straight trips to the Eastern Conference finals during his three years as head coach.
Many of the players who had previously assisted in leading the Pistons to the 2004 NBA championship were also profoundly impacted by him.
The team released a statement this afternoon in response to the news that Saunders, 60, had died of Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The Detroit Pistons released a statement stating, “The Detroit Pistons organization acknowledges the passing of Flip Saunders with tremendous sorrow.” “One of the most successful head coaches in franchise history, he guided the Pistons to three straight Eastern Conference Finals appearances and a franchise-high 64 victories in 2005–06,” the fans will recall him. Flip was a wonderful representative of the Metro Detroit community and left a lasting impression on everyone he came into contact with. Our deepest sympathies go out to his spouse, Debbie, his kids, Ryan, Mindy, Rachel, Kimberly, and all of his friends in the larger Detroit Pistons and NBA community.”
Saunders had a 176-70 record at the end of his three-year stay in Detroit. After losing to the Boston Celtics in the East Finals for the third time in a row in 2008—the team that went on to win the NBA championship that year—the Pistons dismissed him.
As an NBA head coach, Saunders has a 654-594 record with a.524 winning percentage, including a 47-51 record in the postseason (30-21 with the Pistons).
Today on SportsCenter, ESPN commentator Chauncey Billups discussed how Saunders restored his career in Minnesota (prior to 2016).
Many players, both past and present—some of whom were Saunders’ Detroit teammates—used Twitter to share their condolences.
