At the 2015 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Karl-Anthony Towns with the first overall pick. Just four months later, head coach Flip Saunders passed away at 60 years old after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in August.

With the 2017-18 NBA season officially underway, Towns revealed the promise he made to Saunders according to Jace Frederick of Twin Cities:

“I made a promise to Flip Saunders that I would win and I would end the playoff drought, and I intend to do that and keep my promise,” Towns said. “So I think of all my years, I think last year was a great opportunity that we had. We were close, we weren’t close enough. But this year, it feels like the opportunity is really in the palm of our hand and we’ve just got to take it.”

Since the 2004-05 season, the Timberwolves have not made the playoffs. With Towns being the team’s greatest talent since Kevin Garnett, he has an opportunity to end the drought after a strong offseason. By trading for Jimmy Butler and signing three veterans, Minnesota is not only expected to make the playoffs, but make a deep run in the Western Conference.

To begin the new season, the Timberwolves are 1-1. While it will take time for the roster to come together, Towns is ready to keep his promise to Saunders as one of the league’s rising stars.