But by the time the game rolled around earlier this month, Saunders’ fight with Hodgkin lymphoma had forced him away from the Timberwolves. Sam Mitchell was the interim coach. Donovan wasn’t able to see Saunders during the Thunder’s trip to Minnesota.
“Sam just said he wasn’t doing well,” Donovan said. “He didn’t give me a timetable, he just said that he wasn’t doing well. And I could tell from just talking to him, it was pretty serious.”
On Sunday, Saunders died from the cancer at the age of 60, sending shockwaves throughout the NBA community. Saunders touched many lives during his 35-year coaching career, including Donovan’s.