Member Update June 2020

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Minneapolis/St. Paul – The Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx announced joining Team Up for Change to use their platform to effect change in areas of social injustice, racial inequity and systemic racism. In the third year of Team Up for Change and the first year of involvement for the Timberwolves and Lynx, the Timberwolves partnered with the Sacramento Kings on a PSA urging unity and action in the wake of George Floyd’s murder at the hands of law enforcement. Team Up for Change was established in 2018 after the Kings and Milwaukee Bucks experienced racial inequities in their communities, including that of the tragic death of Stephon Clark, an unarmed black man, and the police brutality endured by Bucks guard Sterling Brown. 

“By partnering with the Kings and Bucks for Team Up for Change, we are committed to using our shared resources to inspire action. We will work together to promote inclusion and empower our communities to be a voice of meaningful change,” said Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx CEO Ethan Casson. 

In the upcoming months, the Timberwolves and Lynx will collaborate with the Kings and Bucks to plan and host the third Team Up for Change summit to address issues of social injustice with the goal of working toward more equitable communities.  

The Timberwolves and Lynx are committed to utilizing their platform to generate a movement of change and stand in solidarity with communities across the country. In the first of many steps toward inspiring action and effecting sustainable change, the Timberwolves and Lynx have established the following: 

The Timberwolves and Lynx will continue to uphold the promise to George Floyd, his family and our community to work tirelessly to use our voices to influence change, encourage healing and promote thoughtful action as we move forward together. The Timberwolves and Lynx will be announcing more initiatives soon that will include collaborations between players, coaches, city officials and the local authorities.

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Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Announce “Team Up for Change” Partnership

Minneapolis-St. Paul – Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas today issued the following statement regarding the NBA’s decision to resume the 2019-20 NBA season with 22 teams playing in Orlando, Florida:

“While we are disappointed for our team and our fans that our season is coming to an end, we understand and accept the league’s plan to move forward with 22 teams. It is important that we be a good teammate not only to the NBA, but to the other 29 teams to support the efforts to complete this season and prepare for next season in a healthy and safe manner.

“Our offseason program will be intensive and thorough to make sure our players continue their development and are prepared for the start of the 2020-21 season. Our head coach Ryan Saunders, his assistants and our performance staff will be creative, aggressive and proactive to deal with a period of inactivity that we have not dealt with before. We built good momentum as a team following the trade deadline and our basketball staff will diligently continue to work through our team building processes, including the draft and free agency, as we continue to look for ways to improve our team during this pivotal offseason.

“We will also use this offseason to work tirelessly to help our community heal, to influence change and to promote thoughtful actions in response to recent events.”

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Gersson Rosas Statement On The NBA’s Announcement Regarding The 2019-20 Season

Minneapolis-St. Paul – The Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx announced the first of many steps the organization will take to fight racism and help unite its communities following the murder of George Floyd by law enforcement. The organization will enter a multi-year partnership with The Minneapolis Foundation to address systemic inequities and translate community anger into actions.  

The partnership will include civic leadership duties with Timberwolves Head Coach Ryan Saunders and Lynx Head Coach and General Manager Cheryl Reeve to serve as leaders on one of two advisory committees that will oversee the disbursement of the Fund for Safe Communities, a fund that will champion the prevention of further violence, address systemic inequities, reform the criminal justice system and heal communities affected by this tragedy. The second advisory committee will be compiled of diverse youth from Minneapolis. The two committees will work collectively to disburse funds from the Fund for Safe Communities as early as next week. 

“I am proud of the ways in which the Minnesota Lynx have used our voices to stand up for social justice. The senseless murder of George Floyd has strengthened our resolve to bring about change in the inequities that face our black and brown communities,” said Lynx Head Coach and General Manager Cheryl Reeve. “This alignment with The Minneapolis Foundation will allow us to directly impact these inequities as well as be active participants in the healing of our communities.”  

“Minneapolis is a special place,” said Timberwolves Head Coach Ryan Saunders. “I want all people of color to experience this amazing city without fear. We talk a lot about actions over words; we need to make meaningful change and that starts with partnering with The Minneapolis Foundation. As leaders on this Advisory Committee – we will work diligently with our youth counterparts to listen to what needs to change, raise awareness, and partner with informed leaders who can help bring meaningful impact to our cities.” 

“This is a moment where we all need to step into some bigger, bolder leadership,” said Chanda Smith Baker, Senior Vice President of Impact at The Minneapolis Foundation. “We need allies in this work and we are excited the Timberwolves and Lynx have decided to step into this partnership, dig deep into understanding the complexity of the inequities, and to help us drive toward solutions that ensure senseless tragedies rooted in racism never happen again.” 

The Timberwolves and Lynx organization will announce additional programming and initiatives pertaining to ending systemic racism and the need for community conversations. Its players, some of whom are the most visible young black men and women in America, will be part of these initiatives that will bring healing and change in Minneapolis. Donations can be made by texting SAFEMPLS to 243725.

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Timberwolves and Lynx Join Forces with The Minneapolis Foundation to Pursue Justice, Equity and Healing in the Aftermath of George Floyd’s Death

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