At the Euroleague Media Day we interviewed with David Blatt, the new head coach of the Darüşşafaka Doğuş. During the interview, coach Blatt faithfully answered our questions and talked about Darüşşafaka Doğuş, coaching opportunities in the NBA, Euroleague and many other things. Let’s start.
It was a bit surprise that you signed a contract with Darüşşafaka Doğuş and come back to Turkey. What was the main reason for you to select Darüşşafaka?
I had to do something after I realized that I wasn’t going to get a head coaching job this year in the NBA. I wanted to sign with a high level team in Europe. There were different things happening but Darüşşafaka was the team that filled my requirements for team environment, vision and commitment to excellence. Even though it’s not a team that having recent tradition in European basketball, it’s a team that wants to get there. Helping that kind of team to achieve that level was very appealing to me. That was the reason why I came here.
So can we say that the team has very bright vision?
Yes, very bright vision because the team created in very professional and sportive environment. Also team has a wonderful arena. Great management and leadership with İbrahim Kutluay and Mithat Demirel. We are also a part of a special tradition and history of Darüşşafaka basketball. And we have a connection with a special school of Darüşşafaka.
You said you realized you were not going to get a head coaching job in the NBA. But there were some rumors that you were about to sign with an NBA team. What can you say about those rumors and if you accept them can you give us team names?
Sure, I was very very close to sign with an NBA team. Some of them have been published but I don’t want to talk about it because they have their coaches right now and I don’t want to bring this up again. But I was very close to three different situations that didn’t work out. There are only 30 NBA coaches in the world, sometimes that happens. I’m very happy in my current situation.
Your teams usually start the seasons a bit slow, you accepted that idea on an interview with Socrates Magazine.
That’s looks like it’s in the DNA of my teams over the years, not every time but most of the time. That’s probably because we do things little bit differently and we take a little bit more time o perfect to things that we do. But I’m hoping that, this year we will start as fast as we usually finish, because we are going to need to. The important thing is that we are playing good basketball. We are playing good, we are focused on playing right and we are very committed to the process.
But this year is different than usual, you are playing very good basketball and people really like it. With all of these data, can we say Darüşşafaka Doğuş will improve more and more?
We are going to need to develop every element of our game to compete in many times against Fenerbahçe, Anadolu Efes and Galatasaray. In my opinion Turkish league, from top to bottom, is the strongest league in Europe. Every game will be a challenge and our job to meet that challenge every time we step on the court.
You are coming back to the European basketball after a successful NBA experience. What can you say about that experience?
I have learned many things there, just like I learned many many things in Euorope. These things certainly broaden my knowladge about the game and how to play it. I’m greatful for that, it helped me to develop as a coach.
I know you don’t like to talk about your past NBA experience so much but I got few questions.
I don’t really want to talk so much about that because I’m here right now. I moved on to something else. I have talked enough about that and I want to spend my time and energy on now. You can’t live in the past and you can’t live in the future. If you do, you won’t live in the present. I want to live in the present.
Cleveland Cavaliers announced that they will give you a championship ring. What are you feeling about that, will you attend a ceremony or something?
I appreciate. They recognized that I made a contribution to their historic championship. It was not my championship but I was a part of things. Based on to that, I feel thankful to them they recognized that. I can’t attend any ceremony because I’m here for my own season. That was a very special championship for the Cavaliers organization and for the people lived in Cleveland. I’m happy for the players, coaches and fans because I know what it took and what it meant.
Before you signed with Cavaliers, there were many young and talented players on the roster. After becoming the head coach of the Cavs, LeBron James announced that he is coming home. Did this announcement changed any of your plans?
Sure, with LeBron coming back, Kevin coming in and after all other changes, required a different approach and different kind of adaptation for the team and way of doing things. But that is a part of any process. You have to recognize who, when and where to know how.
Before you sign the contract, did you know that James can comeback? Did anybody talk about it?
Initially it was a dream. Then when he did comeback it was a surprise, obviously a great one for the organization.
One time you said that, “As a coach, Obradovic has the impact on the game more than anyone I have ever seen.” This year you will be rivals for both Turkish League and Euroleague. What can you say about that competition?
Zeljko and I competing each other for a long time. I never felt that it was me against another coach, it was our team against each other. But certainly Zeljko has proven that he is the greatest coach of the history of Europe, you would be foolish not to recognize that. I respect him as a coach also as a man, he is a good man.