Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Ryan Saunders had one of his players tell him “that could have been me” after George Floyd died in police custody in Minneapolis.
“It can be whoever, if you’re black in that moment,” Saunders said on The Habershow podcast with NBC Sports national NBA Insider Tom Haberstroh. “Unfortunately and tragically they have not gotten the benefit of the doubt, as we saw with George Floyd when his hands are behind his back and he’s defenseless.”
Saunders admitted that he teared up watching his star center, Karl-Anthony Towns, attend a rally at Minneapolis City Hall just weeks after his mother, Jacqueline, died due to complications from COVID-19.
“I know his mother, Jackie, would be so proud of him right now,” Saunders said. “He is the type of leader you want to be with.”
Listen to The Habershow here:
Here are the timestamps for Haberstroh’s interview with Saunders:
04:30 -- Saunders’ reaction to seeing the video of Floyd
12:35 -- Timberwolves player: "That could have been me"
13:50 -- Saunders' IG post
15:25 -- Watching Karl-Anthony Towns speak out
32:10 -- "I hope more people that look like me do speak out"
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