David Blatt, the former Princeton player who coached Macabbi Tel Aviv to a dramatic upset victory over Real Madrid in the Euroleague championships this spring in Milan, will reportedly fly to the United States and interview for the head coaching job with the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday
Blatt, whose contract expired in June, told reporters he was leaving for an NBA job after Macabbi Tel Aviv won the Israeli Super League championship.
Unless the Cavaliers move quickly to hire Blatt, there’s a strong belief within the Golden State’s new coach Steve Kerr will hire Blatt as his top assistant. Either way, Blatt, who grew up rooting for the Celtics and always wanted to coach in the NBA, expects to be in the league in some capacity next season.
Cleveland has narrowed its known field to three candidates, including L.A. Clippers’ assistant coaches Alvin Gentry and Tyronn Lue, but owner Dan Gilbert has continued to pursue high-profile college candidates, unsuccessfully negotiating with Kentucky coach John Caliapri for a contract reportedly worth either $60 million or $80 million dollars with final say over personnel decisons, depending on who you want to beleive.
Blatt, 55, was born and raised in the United States, playing his college basketball for Pete Carill at Princeton before beginning a hugely successful head coaching career overseas. He won the 2007 Eurobasket championship with Russia and coached that country to a bronze medal in the 2012 London Olympics.
Blatt has been the head coach at Maccabi Tel Aviv since 2010. In 2014, after Maccabi Tel Aviv had a rough regular season, Blatt led the team to one of the greatest comebacks against CSKA Moscow in the Euroleague semifinal game and proceeded to win the championship, beating Real Madrid, 96-88,in overtime in the finals when former BC guard Tyrese Rice scored 27 points.
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