Will David Blatt coach next year? He believes so, even if it isn’t in the NBA. From USA Today‘s Jeff Zilgitt:
Just a few kilometers from Air Canada Center at the old, historic Maple Leaf Gardens and just minutes before the Toronto Raptors played the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals, former Cavs David Blatt talked at a Canada Basketball coaching clinic.
“What the hell am I doing here? Don’t we have a game in a little bit?” Blatt said.
He said it with a smile and a sense of humor.
…
In a brief conversation, Blatt said he will not take next season off and suggested that if he doesn’t have a head coaching job, he will take one overseas as opposed to working as an assistant or associate head coach in the NBA.
“I don’t see myself not being a head coach somewhere but you never know,” he said.
In 23 years as a coach, Blatt has never taken a full season off.
“I’m going to coach next year. I’m not going to sit out. It’s not in my nature. I want to work,” he said. “I’ll be back somewhere. Could be anywhere.”
Anywhere in the world? “It’s the story of my life,” said the coaching nomad who has had jobs in Russia, Israel, Turkey, Greece, Italy and the United States.
The NBA was his first choice, but it doesn’t look like he will get a top job in the NBA for 2016-17.
“I went through the interview process, and I sincerely hoped to get a job,” he said. “It didn’t work out, and I’m looking ahead. That’s all.”
Blatt was fired by the Cavs despite holding an 83-40 record with the team through a season-and-a-half.
Blatt believed himself to be a legitimate candidate for the New York Knicks job, but that position went to Jeff Hornacek.
One NBA head coaching position that Blatt could potentially still fill is that of the Houston Rockets. However, that’s far from a guarantee. We very well may see Blatt coaching overseas next season.
