Minnesota coach Saunders dies at 60

LeBron practices following injection for his sore back.

Flip Saunders, who rose from the backwaters of basketball’s minor leagues to become one of the most powerful men in the NBA as coach, team president and part owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves, died Sunday, the team announced. He was 60.

Saunders was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in June and doctors called it “treatable and curable.” But he took a leave of absence from the team in September after complications arose during his treatment, which included chemotherapy. He had been hospitalized for more than a month.

Sam Mitchell was been named interim head coach and GM Milt Newton is heading the team’s personnel department.

Saunders went 654-592 in 17 NBA seasons with the Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards. But his best days came in Minnesota, where he nurtured Kevin Garnett from a teenager who jumped straight from high school to the NBA in 1995 and helped turn the woeful Wolves into a perennial playoff team.

LeBron returns to practice: After practicing for the first time since receiving an anti-inflammatory injection in his back, increasing the chances he’ll play in Tuesday’s season opener at Chicago, LeBron James said he would never consider sitting out practices to preserve his body.

“I haven’t gotten to this point by cheating the game,” the four-time MVP said. “If I’m capable of practicing, I will practice. If I’m capable of playing, I’ll play. When I’m not, I’ll quit. The game has given too much for me to ever cheat the game. That’s not how I was born. That’s not how I was taught.

“And when I’m not able to do it to my level, then I’ll quit. It’s that simple.”

James had been limited to shooting drills and conditioning since getting the shot in his back Oct. 13, a day after playing in his second exhibition game. But he took part in every aspect of Cleveland’s workout Sunday and said how his back responds will determine whether he plays Tuesday.