David Blatt appears to be going back to Europe to become the head coach of Turkish club Darussafaka, according to David Pick. Blatt was fired earlier this season after helping lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in his first year coaching in the NBA.
Blatt has previously coached in Europe at various clubs in Israel and Russia. He has also been the head coach of the Israeli and Russian national teams.
Blatt’s move back to Europe is somewhat surprising. He had shown that he was an expert tactician. He did, however, rub some the wrong way in the way he addressed his team and the media, making sure everyone knew of the success he has had overseas.
The head coach was linked to several openings within the league but every team has now gone a different direction. Blatt could have easily found a job as the lead assistant for one of these new hires, keeping himself in NBA circles so that he could find a head coach position quickly. However, it now appears he was unwilling to do so and preferred leading a club, himself.
It is unclear whether Blatt wants to get back in the NBA coaching ranks eventually. One would think that that is still his ultimate goal. However, with the move back to Europe, there is a distinct possibility that he will want to stay where he has had much success before.
No word yet on whether or not David Blatt will be taking his fighter jet to get to Istanbul.
