Goodwill Games

03/21/2001

Minnesota Timberwolves Mentor Flip Saunders Named Head Coach Of 2001 USA Basketball Men's Goodwill Games Team of NBA Players

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 21, 2001) -- Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders was named today as head coach of USA Basketball's Goodwill Games team scheduled to compete in the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia, Sept. 3-9, 2001. Saunders will coach a 12-member team comprised of young NBA players who will represent the United States in the Goodwill Games for the first time. Saunders' selection was made by the USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team Committee.

The player selection criteria developed by the Senior National Committee calls for the 2001 USA Goodwill Games Team to be comprised of NBA players who were either drafted in 1999 or 2000, or who are 22-years-old or younger. USA player selections will be made at a later date.

"USA Basketball is very excited to have Flip as our Goodwill Games head coach. He has done a tremendous job coaching at all levels, and the experience and respect he has garnered during his career will be a great asset to our team this summer." said USA Basketball Executive Director Jim Tooley.

Mike Plant, President of the Goodwill Games, Flip Saunders, Head Coach for Team USA and Jim Tooley, Executive Director of USA Basketball

"USA Basketball and the NBA are excited to participate in the Goodwill Games," stated Stu Jackson, Chair of the USA Basketball Men's Senior National Committee and NBA Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations. "This will present a great opportunity for some of our younger NBA players to gain international experience playing for USA Basketball, and we are pleased to have an outstanding coach like Flip Saunders to guide our team."

"I am deeply honored and excited to be named coach for the 2001 Goodwill Games. I look forward to serving as an ambassador for USA Basketball," said Saunders. "Anytime the NBA gets a chance to showcase its talent on a world stage, it is a great opportunity for our league,"" said Saunders.

The Goodwill Games basketball competition will be held Sept. 3- 9 and televised in the United States on Turner Network Television (TNT). The eight team Goodwill Games basketball field also includes Argentina, host-country Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, New Zealand and Puerto Rico.

"We are looking forward to what should be a terrific eight-team tournament in Brisbane. These teams represent the best available talent and should provide great regional appeal for the competition," said Mike Plant, President of the Goodwill Games, Inc.

The USA is the defending Goodwill champions having won the gold in New York at the '98 Games with a thrilling 93-85 overtime win over Australia. The USA men have medaled in all four Goodwill Games competitions and in the process compiled an overall win-loss record of 19-6 (.760 winning percentage). The USA captured gold in 1998 and 1986, silver in 1990 and bronze in 1994. All four of those USA Goodwill Teams were comprised of college players.

Saunders, 45, who boasts of a current NBA coaching record of 219-206 (through games

of March 20, 2001) for a .515 winning percentage, has led the Timberwolves to an NBA Playoff berth in each of his four full seasons as their head mentor. Saunders has also been involved with USA Basketball previously, serving as an assistant coach with the 1993 USA Tournament of the Americas Team. The U.S. team, comprised of Continental Basketball Association (CBA) players, finished 6-1 to capture the Americas championship in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Flip Saunders responding to questions from
members of the media at the press conference.

Saunders officially joined the Timberwolves on May 11, 1995, as general manager, working under his former teammate at the University of Minnesota, Kevin McHale. On Dec. 18, 1995, Saunders was named head coach of the Timberwolves. One of the most successful coaches in the history of the CBA, Saunders guided the Minnesota Timberwolves to their first-ever playoff berth in 1996-97, his first full season as an NBA head coach, and to a franchise-record 50 victories in 1999-2000.

He came to Minnesota after seven productive seasons as a head coach in the CBA, where he ranks second with 253 career victories. Saunders began his CBA career in 1988-89 with the Rapid City (S.D.) Thrillers, then moved to the LaCrosse (Wis.) Catbirds for five seasons (1989-94) before coaching in 1994-95 with the Sioux Falls (S.D.) Skyforce. He also served as general manager (1991-93) and team president (1991-94) of the Catbirds. Saunders' impressive CBA tenure included seven consecutive seasons of 30 or more victories, two CBA championships (1990, 1992), two CBA Coach of the Year honors (1989, 1992) and 23 CBA-to-NBA player promotions.

The Goodwill Games, to be held August 29 - September 9, 2001, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia will feature 14 sports: athletics, basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, cycling (track), diving, figure skating, gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, swimming, trampoline, triathlon, weightlifting and surf lifesaving. The Goodwill Games were founded by AOL Time Warner Vice Chairman R.E. Turner in 1986 to ensure that the world's best athletes have the opportunity to compete in world class competition. The four previous Goodwill Games have alternated between the United States and Russia; however, future Goodwill Games will be staged in countries around the world in both winter and summer formats. TNT is the host network for the Goodwill Games. Nine Network Australia will broadcast the 2001 Goodwill Games locally. Goodwill Games, Inc. is a division of Turner Sports, the sports programming and production business unit of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

The USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team Committee which selected Saunders, consists of nine members and a non-voting chair. Stu Jackson, NBA Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations, serves as chair of the Committee. Six of the Committee's nine voting members were appointed by the NBA and include Bryan Colangelo, President and General Manager of the Phoenix Suns; Billy King, General Manager of the Philadelphia 76ers; Mitch Kupchak, General Manager of the Los Angeles Lakers; Kevin O'Connor, Vice President of Basketball Operations of the Utah Jazz; Garry St. Jean, General Manager of the Golden State Warriors; Rod Thorn, President of the New Jersey Nets; NCAA appointee C.M. Newton, former athletic director at the University of Kentucky; and athlete representatives Joe Dumars, a member of the gold medalist 1994 USA World Championship Team, and Steve Smith, a member of the gold medalist 1994 World Championship and 2000 Olympic teams.

Flip Saunders' NBA Coaching Record

Year Team Regular Season Record NBA Playoffs
Record Postseason

2000-01 Minnesota Timberwolves *39- 28

1999-00 Minnesota Timberwolves 50- 32 1- 3 Western Conference
First Round

1998-99 Minnesota Timberwolves 25- 25 1- 3 Western Conference
First Round

1997-98 Minnesota Timberwolves 45- 37 2- 3 Western Conference
First Round

1996-97 Minnesota Timberwolves 40- 42 0- 3 Western Conference
First Round

1995-96 Minnesota Timberwolves 20- 42 0- 0

TOTALS Six Seasons
(1995-2001) 219-206 4-12

*Through March 20, 2001

Contacts:

Jeff Pomeroy Goodwill Games 404-827-4786

Craig Miller USA Basketball 719-590-4800

Terry Lyons NBA 212-407-8359

Kent Wipf Minnesota Timberwolves 612-673-1601

Greg Hughes Turner Sports 404-827-3362

Back to Australia News Archive