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On tonight's edition of Timberwolves and Lynx Academy "Today's Voices Of The Game", Wolves VP of Basketball Development John Thomas is being joined by Wolves HC Ryan Saunders to speak about navigating life during COVID-19, leadership, and commitment to the MSP community.
Through the first 15 minutes, Saunders has stressed that "it's okay to not be okay" and that it is okay to not have all the answers, as it relates to present challenges facing our community with COVID-19 and social injustice.
Saunders is praising Timberwolves Vice President of Basketball Performance and Technology Robby Sikka for his leadership and the wonders he did for Timberwolves coaches and players in the early days of the pandemic back in March.
Thomas asked Ryan about who has helped him and his team have conversations around social injustice in America and in Minneapolis specifically.
He singled out:
• Bryan Stevenson from the Equal Justice Initiative
• Drew Pettigrew, activist for Community/Police Relations
and
He singled out:
• Bryan Stevenson from the Equal Justice Initiative
• Drew Pettigrew, activist for Community/Police Relations
and
• Robin Roberts, legendary sportscaster and current co-host of GMA
Saunders says he doesn't think there are any "buts" when it comes to equality.
"There's a lot of wrong going on in the world, but it's important for people that look like myself to stand with our Black and Brown brothers and sisters."
"There's a lot of wrong going on in the world, but it's important for people that look like myself to stand with our Black and Brown brothers and sisters."
Ryan has also spent a good deal of time speaking to how basketball has been a great uniter for him, and has allowed him to connect and develop relationships with people of all different backgrounds, races, and experiences.
Saunders relayed a great message from Pettigrew about taking what's in your heart, translating it to your head and how you think about it, and then using your hands to create action and make change happen.
He repeated, "Heart to Head to Hands". Awesome visual
He repeated, "Heart to Head to Hands". Awesome visual
Now shifting the focus to how he coaches, Saunders is preaching about the importance of letting your authenticity, compassion, and empathy shine through in your coaching.
He mentioned he doesn't recommend being a yeller, especially with young kids (youth coaches on the call)
He mentioned he doesn't recommend being a yeller, especially with young kids (youth coaches on the call)
Ryan looked into the camera to passionately mention that kids' job is to have fun and build relationships with their teammates and friends. Said that friends that were alongside him at his wedding were guys he played middle school and high school hoops with.
"I believe the work is above everything, if you are going to achieve something great"
"Develop yourself physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally"
- Coach Saunders
"Develop yourself physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally"
- Coach Saunders
"There's no shame in talking to someone with a professional degree in psychology".
Saunders noted that he leaned on Timberwolves Team Psychologist Dr. Justin Anderson when Flip passed, and that he has been instrumental in assisting players.
Saunders noted that he leaned on Timberwolves Team Psychologist Dr. Justin Anderson when Flip passed, and that he has been instrumental in assisting players.
Saunders praises Adam Silvers for emboldening players to speak out about mental health and how important it is for players, just like it is for everyone else.
He shouted out K-Love, DeMar DeRozan, and others for their bravery in breaking the ice publicly with their stories.
He shouted out K-Love, DeMar DeRozan, and others for their bravery in breaking the ice publicly with their stories.
"Being vocal, being great communicators is something that plays into mental health."
Now into the Q&A portion of the hour, Saunders fielded a question about how he breaks down film sessions with shorter attention spans in today's age.
Saunders said the Wolves started doing film sessions by position groups, and offense/defense. Often watched film in 15 min spurts
Saunders said the Wolves started doing film sessions by position groups, and offense/defense. Often watched film in 15 min spurts
This film session structure was implemented in the 2019-20 season.
Saunders says that KAT shouldn't be coached the same way that Malik Beasley should be, but that they should all be *treated* equally.
Coached differently, treated equally.
Coached differently, treated equally.
Mentions that attacking issues with players/team by first leveraging relationships with individuals to solve problems that way, first.
Issues arise and relationships are how you get through them.
Issues arise and relationships are how you get through them.
Saunders on how coaching a completely new team was this year:
"There's no manual for that. I give Gerss a ton of credit for doing an incredible job flipping the roster"
"When you coach through relationships, the only thing that can help that is time spent together."
"There's no manual for that. I give Gerss a ton of credit for doing an incredible job flipping the roster"
"When you coach through relationships, the only thing that can help that is time spent together."
Saunders mentions he was FaceTiming Malik Beasley an hour ago about different things he needs to work on leading into the in-market bubble in the coming weeks.
"I'm excited to be working as a unit again".
"I'm excited to be working as a unit again".
Question: What do you need to learn to become a HC?
"Be flexible."
Saunders touched on how he had to peel back offense post-deadline and that the way the team practiced changed quite a bit.
"Be flexible."
Saunders touched on how he had to peel back offense post-deadline and that the way the team practiced changed quite a bit.
Question: What are things you need to have as a Player Development coach?
Saunders mentioned paying attention to details, focusing on fundamentals, and building off players' strengths.
Saunders mentioned paying attention to details, focusing on fundamentals, and building off players' strengths.
Question: Will it be harder to evaluate prospects with COIVD-19 taking away NCAA tournament platform to evaluate elite players?
Saunders seems extremely confident in Rosas. Said it's been fun to watch Gerss work and that he (Ryan) has been more involved in draft pick convos this
Saunders seems extremely confident in Rosas. Said it's been fun to watch Gerss work and that he (Ryan) has been more involved in draft pick convos this
fall with the extra time to prep for the draft.
Saunders says he eventually wants the Timberwolves to be seen as a championship caliber organization.
JT asked him to if he wanted to brag about something, and Saunders elected to praise Robby Sikka and his Saliva Direct efforts with COVID-19 testing
JT asked him to if he wanted to brag about something, and Saunders elected to praise Robby Sikka and his Saliva Direct efforts with COVID-19 testing
and the "championship caliber people in the organization" from the front office to the coaching staff to the players themselves.
About the #1 pick:
"There's no decision that's been made. We're keeping everything open."
"I like playing multiple ball handlers out there. I like two bigs out there. I'm open to throwing things out there we've never seen before"
"There's no decision that's been made. We're keeping everything open."
"I like playing multiple ball handlers out there. I like two bigs out there. I'm open to throwing things out there we've never seen before"
"We played Jaylen Nowell at the 4 and Juancho Hernangomez at the 5 once last year with KAT off the floor."
Mentioned the team was forced to get more creative with KAT off the floor and that they will try new things in the lineup next season.
Mentioned the team was forced to get more creative with KAT off the floor and that they will try new things in the lineup next season.
Speaking to players:
"I call it the daily dozen. 6 things on offense, 6 things on defense. 2 minutes each for 24 minutes. We focus on just one thing for two minutes. We need to be a better passing team next season, so we have worked on pocket passes for two minutes... "
"I call it the daily dozen. 6 things on offense, 6 things on defense. 2 minutes each for 24 minutes. We focus on just one thing for two minutes. We need to be a better passing team next season, so we have worked on pocket passes for two minutes... "
Saunders mentioned that youth players should focus on little things and fundamentals every day. Offered the daily dozen example to show that even in the NBA, players need to be fundamentally sound and constantly improve upon fundamentals.
Also wants young players to always give a communicative (verbal or non-verbal) signal to teammates for making great passes. Added that it helps build relationships, team chemistry, and trust.
Saunders' closing message:
"Greatness is for everybody. It's defined in different ways for each person, but greatness is for everybody."
"Greatness is for everybody. It's defined in different ways for each person, but greatness is for everybody."
Thanks for following along.
An awesome, fast-paced conversation with @jgthomas and Ryan Saunders that covered a ton of bases from social justice and mental health to coaching to youth development.
An awesome, fast-paced conversation with @jgthomas and Ryan Saunders that covered a ton of bases from social justice and mental health to coaching to youth development.
