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“The natural narrative was: ‘Man, Tyronn Lue undermined David Blatt.’ Like, he just waited it out to get that spot. Did you hear that all the time?” Tyronn Lue: “All the time. And that’s exactly why I didn’t even want to take the job—because I knew what it would look like from the outside. But if people knew what really happened the year before, they would’ve never said that.” “As associate head coach, my job was to do whatever I could to make the head coach’s job easier. That’s what I did. I would never undermine somebody for a job. That’s not who I am. That’s not my personality. And honestly? I believe that stuff comes back on you if you operate that way.”
Tyronn Lue: David Blatt's system didn't fit with LeBron
“Was Coach Blatt’s message just not getting through? Was it falling on deaf ears? Somebody upstairs must’ve made the call. Why would you fire the head coach when you’re the number one seed—after just going to the Finals?” Tyronn Lue: “Look, for me, I think he did a great job. But here’s the thing—when you coach overseas, you are the face of the team. Whatever you say goes, no matter which players are on the roster. You’re in control. But in the NBA? The players are the face of the team. And that’s a totally different dynamic.” “So even if you want to go off on someone—cuss a guy out—you might not be able to do that today. You know what I’m saying? You just can’t do it the same way. But I’ll be honest: his offensive system? It was great. I wish I could run it today. All the stuff he brought over was good stuff. The problem? It didn’t fit with Bron. Bron’s not going to run around the way that system required. Kyrie wants to dance. He’s not coming off curls. Kevin Love isn’t a mover either.” “The offense worked in Europe—but it didn’t match our personnel.
Tyronn Lue: And look, Blatt had been very successful overseas. He won championships. He was a great coach. But it didn’t fit what we were trying to do with that Cleveland team.” “So I think guys got frustrated—with the process, with the way we were doing things on both ends of the floor. Some of it was just… different. And look, there’s nothing wrong with change—if it works. And honestly? It was working. But people didn’t have the patience to wait it out. And that’s when things started to get harder.”
Brendan Haywood: My favorite Bron moment? The shot he hit in Chicago. All my career, I heard people say, "He can’t hit a game-winner. He’s scared of the moment." We’re down two. David Blatt draws up the game-winner for J.R. Smith. Bron grabs the clipboard, erases the play, and draws his own. He says, "Deli, take it out. I’m going to fake this way, pop to the corner, and hit the three." He fakes out Jimmy Butler, pops to the corner, hits the three, and wins the game. I’ve never seen anyone draw up their own game-winner like that. That’s elite.
David Blatt chose to stand. The international coaching legend — who has relied on a wheelchair and crutches since a multiple sclerosis diagnosis six years ago took away his ability to walk — saw me approaching his hotel cafe from a distance and started to make his move. His right hand went first, pushing up from the table where he was sitting and lifting his frame just enough to allow the left hand to finish the job. He was up, if only for a few seconds, showing off that white Canada polo shirt that he would sport for a game against Spain that afternoon. He flashed a warm smile while extending his arm for a handshake. The former Cleveland Cavaliers coach and current Canadian men’s basketball team consultant is in a fight the medical community says he can’t win. So there’s something quite powerful about this pleasantry when he could have just stayed seated.
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“That’s the way you’ve gotta be, Sam,” Blatt, 65, said when I asked why he felt the need to stand. “That’s the way you’ve gotta be. That’s what this sport and this business has taught me. If you ain’t working, you ain’t living. And if you’re not trying to improve, then you’re going backward. That’s the only thing you can do.”
But the truth is Blatt’s days on the sideline are over after the condition compelled him to step down as head coach of the Greek Olympiacos team in October 2019 and end a decorated coaching career that spanned nearly three decades. Blatt was diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis, a form of nerve and brain disorder that worsens over time. He does what he can to slow the effects — biannual infusions of a disease-modifying drug called Ocrevus, twice-daily medications that help with flexibility and mobility and a workout regimen that includes swimming, Pilates and stretching — but he has no misconceptions about what he’s up against.
“I’m doing everything I can to slow the downward progression that this type of MS causes, but I’m not the same guy I was a year ago, physically,” Blatt said. “I want to believe I’m better mentally and stronger. I’m great mentally. But unfortunately, there is a downward spiral to this condition, and the question is, how long can you maintain and keep from becoming almost incapable of moving around the way that I have to move around, which allows me to travel freely and to come in and out of stadiums, one way or another? “I get a lot of help, thank goodness, from a lot of good people. And I do my best to physically maintain myself. But this disease, unfortunately, from a physical standpoint, has a shelf life. And the best that you can hope for until a cure is found, is to delay it. And that’s…”
However, there is one player who bridges the gap between the new and older generations, displaying excellence on and off the court, even at 39. This mainstay of Team USA continues to inspire. "I did. I did," responded Blatt, who coached LeBron James on the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014 to 2016, when asked if he watched the USA vs. Serbia game. And how does it feel to watch this player perform at such a high level at his age? "Amazement. And respect. And appreciation. That he can continue doing what he does at this level with such enthusiasm, effort, and commitment. It's, you know... it's really unbelievable. It really is. Respect, respect."
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David Blatt, who consults both the Tel Aviv club and the Canadian national team, is currently in Paris for the Olympic Games, providing advice to Jordi Fernandez, who led the Canadians to the bronze podium at last year's World Championship. Brooklyn Nets head coach Fernandez calls Blatt his guardian angel. Since 2020, Blatt has been working as a consultant for the national team, sending messages with his observations to Fernandez during games and offering his insights from the sidelines. "I really predict a great [NBA] future for him. He stepped into a situation that allows him to develop and grow the program," Blatt spoke of Fernandez's head coaching potential in the NBA.
"One of the reasons I strongly recommended him is not only because we've known each other for years but also because his European background fits well with the evolving NBA landscape. The NBA is increasingly appreciative of and aligned with the European style of play," added Blatt. "He fits that very well. He's a great communicator and a relationship guy, and that's going to help him a lot in his new role."
"I did. I did," responded Blatt, who coached LeBron James on the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014 to 2016, when asked if he watched the USA vs. Serbia game. And how does it feel to watch this player perform at such a high level at his age? "Amazement. And respect. And appreciation. That he can continue doing what he does at this level with such enthusiasm, effort, and commitment. It's, you know... it's really unbelievable. It really is. Respect, respect."
Jorge Sierra: Best record by NBA head coaches dismissed in-season David Blatt (Cavs in 2015-16): 73.2% Jack McKinney (Lakers in 1979-80): 71.4% ADRIAN GRIFFIN (Bucks in 2023-24): 69.8% Cavs and Lakers won the title after making that coaching change. Bucks 2024 champions confirmed. pic.twitter.com/oeOZyLrQV3
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