Maccabi Tel Aviv's Blatt named Cavaliers' head coach
Following illustrious career in Israel, Europe and despite pleas from Netanyahu to remain in Israel, Blatt fulfils dream to coach in NBA.
Blatt led Maccabi Tel Aviv to a stunning upset of Real Madrid in this year's Euroleague championship, and in the celebration afterward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pleaded with him to stay. But the chance to coach in the NBA was too much to resist and Blatt, who emigrated to Israel after college, will return to the US for the first time in 30 years.
Cleveland fired Mike Brown on May 12 following a 33-49 season. The team interviewed several former head coaches and some highly regarded assistants before zeroing in on Blatt, who recently resigned at Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv to pursue his dream of coaching in the NBA.
The club signed Blatt - born and educated in America - to a three-year deal that includes a team option for a fourth year and could be worth $20 million.
Blatt is the Cavaliers' third coach in three years and while he may not be well known in the US, the 55-year-old has an extensive international resume and is regarded as one of the game's top offensive tacticians.
Cleveland contacted high-profile college coaches and interviewed both retreaded head coaches and on-the-rise assistants before zeroing in and landing Blatt, who won several European titles while coaching in Israel and guided Russia to a bronze medal at the London Olympics two years ago.
Blatt will be introduced by the team Wednesday, one day before the club picks first in this year's NBA draft.
"I couldn't be more excited about the opportunity to come to Cleveland and lead the Cavaliers as their head coach," Blatt said. "We are going to work extremely hard to achieve the kind of results we all expect and know are possible."
Blatt also was coveted as an assistant by Golden State and Minnesota, but the Cavs made him the first European coach to make the jump to the NBA.
"David Blatt is going to bring some of the most innovative approaches found in professional basketball anywhere on the globe," Cavs owner Dan Gilbert said. "Time and time again, from Russia to Israel and several other prominent head coaching jobs in between, David has done one thing: 'win'. He is not only an innovator, well-trained and focused on both sides of the court, but he is always learning and always teaching."
"David is a great basketball coach and a special person," said Cavs general manager David Griffin. "His abilities to communicate, to build relationships with his players and to foster winning environments at several stops throughout Europe and across the highest levels of international competition speak for itself. He brings unbridled passion, energy and creativity to his craft.
"I have watched David's work for many years. He has an uncanny ability to adapt his system to maximize the talents of his teams year after year. That is why I am very confident he will make a smooth transition to the NBA."
Blatt played point guard at college at Princeton under Hall of Fame coach Pete Carril, whose pass-and-cut offense has often been mimicked. Blatt has incorporated elements of the Princeton system into his offense.
