Cleveland Cavaliers appoint David Blatt as their Head Coach
Cleveland Cavliers hired former Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach David Blatt as their Head Coach, 39 days after firing Mike Brown. Blatt is among the most successful American coaches to have ever coached in Europe, and his 93-14 win-loss record with his former team over the course of four years is a testimony of that.
Blatt will be introduced on Wednesday, a day before the team names the first player they’ll choose in the 2014 NBA Draft.
Post his resignation as the Tel Aviv head coach, he became a hot commodity with more than one team looking to associate him with their organization. While the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves could only offer him an assistant coach’s position, Cavaliers appointed him as their third head coach for three years making him the first European coach to make the jump to the NBA.
''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.” -Cavaliers general manager David Griffin.
Head Coach of the Russian national basketball team that earned a bronze in the 2012 London Summer Olympics, Blatt has signed a three year deal with the team which includes a 20 million dollar fourth year team option. He led Tel Aviv to a shocking upset win against Real Madrid in the Euroleague Final before quitting. Isarel’s prime minister pleaded with him to stay, but the opportunity of coaching an NBA team was too good to resist.
''I couldn't be more excited about the opportunity to come to Cleveland and lead the Cavaliers as their head coach. We are going to work extremely hard to achieve the kind of results we all expect and know are possible.''-Cavaliers new Head Coach David Blatt.
55 year old Blatt returns to his home country after spending close to two decades across Europe, predominantly in Israel. The Cavaliers fans will hope for better results from him.