The Los Angeles Lakers have paid tribute to Flip Saunders by wearing T-shirts with his name printed on them ahead of their season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Saunders passed away at the weekend after battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma, leaving interim leader Sam Mitchell to continue preparing the Timberwolves for the new season as they mourned the loss of the former Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards coach.

In a week which has seen many players and coaches pay tribute to Saunders, the Lakers have shown their support for the Timberwolves, who also wore T-shirts to honour him at the Staples Center.

Mitchell has been named Timberwolves coach for the rest of the season.