David Blatt, the American-Israeli basketball coach, was named this Thursday as a candidate for the 2022 Hall of Fame of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).
The 62-year-old, retired from the activity in 2019 after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, has a successful career in European basketball and a resounding stint in the American NBA.
David Blatt in his time in the NBA. (AP)
He was champion of the EuroCup, managing Dynamo Saint Petersburg of Russia in 2005 and Darussafaka of Turkey in 2018; and was also the winner of the Euroleague 2014 directing Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel. In addition, he was champion of the EuroBasket 2007 in command of the Russian team, with which he also won the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
In 2014, following his success with Maccabi, Blatt took over the Cleveland Cavaliers, a star-studded team led by LeBron James. In his first season in the NBA, he managed to win his conference and lead the team to the end of the season. He was fired from the Cavaliers in the middle of the following tournament and returned to European basketball, until his retirement in 2019.
Two years later, Blatt could become the third Israeli to receive one of the greatest accolades in international basketball. This distinction was already obtained in the past by Miki Berkowitz, legend of Maccabi Tel Aviv in the 70s and 80s; and the late Noah Klieger, journalist, sports leader and Holocaust survivor.
