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The Wizards mourn the passing of Flip Saunders

Read some of the tweets and other posts by Wizards players on the passing of former head coach Flip Saunders.

By Albert Lee Updated
Greg Fiume/Getty Images

Many players on the Wizards' current roster have tweeted their reactions and condolences on the death of former head coach Flip Saunders. Saunders was the President of Basketball Operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves since 2013 and was also their head coach since 2014.

Though the current roster hardly resembles the one that Saunders led from 2009-2012, many Wizards players have still given their thoughts and condolences. Let's start with John Wall's:

His quote from the post:

The sting of losing another loved one to cancer doesn't get any easier. My thoughts & prayers are with the Saunders &Twolves family. Coach Saunders guided me into this league, he believed in me and taught me what it takes to be a good player and a better man. RIP Coach

Drew Gooden III also was with the Wizards for a short period of time after the Caron Butler/Josh Howard deal in February 2010:

And here are tweets from other current Wizards players:

As mentioned earlier, Saunders led a Wizards team that went through a major change from the Gilbert Arenas-Caron Butler-Antawn Jamison era to the current John Wall-Bradley Beal era. Along the way, the many players who spent time during Saunders' tenure in D.C. also gave their thoughts:

His caption:

No this is unreal a dint n my heart for sure we hardly seen eye to eye n person because I was young and prideful but behind closed doors I would tell everyone he was one of my favorite coaches I'm so sad even mad I didn't get the chance to tell him wat he really did for me 452/452 twist my fav plays will forever be drilled n my head my prayers go to your family I'm so sorry

Lakers guard Nick Young also posted this on Instagram:

This hit home, Rest in peace coach Flip Saunders a Great Men praying for the Saunders Family #FCancer

A photo posted by Nick Young (@swaggyp1) on

This hit home, Rest in peace coach Flip Saunders a Great Men praying for the Saunders Family #FCancer

In addition to the players, Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld and Head Coach Randy Wittman have given statements on Saunders' passing:

Here is Grunfeld's:

Flip's passion, love and knowledge of the game shined throughout his life as a player, coach and executive spanning all levels of basketball. He will be remembered as one of the game's great contributors, but we will miss him as a friend and a colleague. Our thoughts are with his wife, Debbie, and his children, Ryan, Mindy, Rachel and Kimberly, as well as the countless players he guided and lives he touched over the course of his esteemed career.

and Wittman's:

It was an honor to be able to coach with Flip for over 10 years and a privilege to call him a friend for life. Although I join the entire basketball world in deep sadness over his passing, we should all celebrate a great man who was able to do so much for the game he loved, the people and players he worked with and the communities where he lived. He was a tremendous coach, but an even better husband and father and my thoughts and prayers are with his entire family during this difficult time.

We will keep updating this post as more reactions get posted.

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Former Wizards head coach Flip Saunders passes away

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