David Blatt
David Michael Blatt (Hebrew: דייוויד מייקל בלאט; born May 22, 1959)[1] is an Israeli-American professional basketball coach.[2] He is currently the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Blatt played point guard at Princeton University from 1977 to 1981. He played in the Maccabiah Games for the USA national team that won a gold medal in 1981. He then played professional basketball in Israel for nine of the next 12 years. An injury ended his playing career and he began coaching full-time.
 Blatt as the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | May 22, 1959 Boston, Massachusetts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | American / Israeli | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| High school | Framingham South (Framingham, Massachusetts) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College | Princeton (1977–1981) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1981 / Undrafted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1981–1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coaching career | 1993–2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As player: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1981–1984 | Maccabi Haifa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1986–1987 | Hapoel Jerusalem | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1987–1989 | Maccabi Netanya | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1989–1990 | Hapoel Galil Elyon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1990–1991 | Hapoel Jerusalem | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1992 | Ironi Nahariya | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992–1993 | Maccabi Hadera | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As coach: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993–1994 | Hapoel Galil Elyon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–1995 | Hapoel Galil Elyon (assistant) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1999 | Hapoel Galil Elyon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2001 | Maccabi Tel Aviv (assistant) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2003 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2004 | Maccabi Tel Aviv (assistant) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2005 | Dynamo St. Petersburg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2007 | Benetton Treviso | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | Efes Pilsen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | Dynamo Moscow | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | Aris | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2014 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2018 | Darüşşafaka | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | Olympiacos | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As head coach:
As assistant coach:
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Medals
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Blatt is one of the most successful American coaches in European basketball history. As a coach, Blatt has been the Israeli League Coach of the Year four times (1996, 2002, 2011, and 2014). He was the Russian Super League Coach of the Year (2005). In the 2012 Summer Olympics he led the Russian national team to win a Bronze medal.[3] Blatt was also the Euroleague Coach of the Year (2014). He took over as Cleveland's head coach in 2014 His lifetime .639 winning percentage after the 2014–15 season was the best of any Cavaliers head coach in team history.
Blatt was born on May 22, 1959, in Boston, Massachusetts.[1] He grew up in Framingham, Massachusetts. As a freshman he played junior varsity before becoming one of Framingham South's top players.[4]
On August 19, 2019, he announced that he has Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, the most advanced form of the autoimmune disease.[5]
David Blatt Media
Blatt coaching the Russian national team in 2011
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "COACHE'S CORNER". basketballplayseditor.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- ↑ Pete Thamel (5 September 2010). "Uncommon Path Led Russia's Coach All Over the World". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- ↑ ESPN.com news services (20 June 2014). "David Blatt accepts Cavs job". ESPN. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- ↑ Lenny Megliola (26 June 2014). "David Blatt: From Framingham to coach of NBA's Cavaliers". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- ↑ "David Blatt reveals he has Multiple Sclerosis". Jerusalem Post. August 19, 2019. https://www.jpost.com/International/David-Blatt-reveals-he-has-Multiple-Sclerosis-599078. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
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