By Antonis Stroggylakis / astroggylakis@eurohoops.net
Jakarta, Indonesia – David Blatt, a legendary figure in European basketball and a highly successful coach on both club and international level, has been in Jakarta, Indonesia with the Canadian national team.
Blatt has been working as a consultant at the Canadian Basketball Organization over the last three years. He’s now witnessing up close the – so far – very impressive fruits of his labor as well.
“It’s not my labor,” Blatt said after Canada’s latest practice ahead of the game vs. Latvia. “I’m just a part of a great organization and I’m happy very much to be a part of what we’re trying to accomplish here with Canada Basketball. That’s to become once again a team of the highest level in the FIBA scene, perform well in all international competitions that we’re taking a part in – now the World Championship specifically – and of course qualify to the Olympics for the first time in 25 years.”
Blatt, who was kind enough to answer a couple of questions from journalists while also taking peaks at the World Cup game between Team USA and Greece, described how he assumed this position with Canada Basketball.
“It’s funny,” Blatt said. “At one time, Rowan Barrett, who’s been a colleague and a friend of mine for many many years, actually approached me years ago for the Canadian head coaching job. At that time we had discussions but I was to ask to be released from consideration because I was diagnosed with my particular condition. It didn’t go any further than that. But, due to our longtime relationship and friendship, Roland asked me if I’m willing to work with the team and Canadian basketball in another profession, being a consultant. I’m happy and proud to do it.”
There are several stars in this edition of the Canadian national team, a group of players that is considered the strongest in the history of the organization. Blatt also pointed out the quality of the people involved possess as individuals.
“Canada Basketball is made up of people of great characters,” Blatt said. “I think we have a terrific group of guys. Guys that want to play for their country, guys that want to play together. Guys that want to prove something on the international stage and guys with the hunger to compete. I’m happy to say we have a group of guys, top to bottom being a joy to work with and are representative of what Canada is trying to accomplish.”
Canada features some notable and experienced NBA players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, RJ Barrett, Kelly Olynyk but also players well-travelled in international basketball such as Melvin Ejim or Kyle Alexander.
“A lot of the guys who we do have gone to the FIBA Windows,” Blatt said. “And that certainly gives a lot to the guys who have played much less or haven’t played at all. Fortunately, most of the guys that we have here have some kind of experience from FIBA Basketball. Not a great deal like some of the players from Greece or players from France for example. But they are making the adjustments. And learning quickly from the players who’ve been a part of FIBA Basketball a great deal. Willingness and desire to compete with all di differences and all the changes that they’ve gone through to compete at the highest level.”
Over the last four years, Blatt has been battling PPMS (Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis), a deteriorating disease that affects a person’s neurological system. It was the reason he stepped down from coaching in 2019 when he was at the helm of EuroLeague powerhouse Olympiacos Piraeus.
“My condition unfortunately is characterized by general downward spiral in terms of your physical abilities,” Blatt mentioned. I couldn’t help but tell him how incredible it is that he talks about the severity of his illness and condition with a big smile on his face.
“All my life I’ve dealt with difficult situations,” Blatt said . “One of the most important things is to have a positive attitude. Continue to work both on yourself and work in the things you love so to be fulfilled and be positive about it. That’s what I do man…”
“I always ask my players to be winners. It’s time to be a winner myself.”
In 2014, Blatt won the EuroLeague championship as head coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv. Last season, Blatt rejoined the Israeli club as a chairman of the professional committee and an external consultant. The Yellows made the EuroLeague playoffs and won the Israeli Championship and League Cup on a domestic level.
Next year his role will have to undergo some unfortunately necessary changes.
“I worked with Maccabi in a similar role as a consultant last year,” Blatt said. “I really – really enjoyed it, we had a great year. I hope we can get back to where we were some years ago when I was a part of the organization then.
“I’m thankful and I’m really – really pleased to be a part of that. My role this year will be something less due to my inability to travel as much as I was able before. But I’ll still be a part of it and I’ll still contribute to the organization that’s so important of me.”
While discussing about Maccabi, Blatt took a look at his tablet to notice that USA has built quite a lead against Greece. The match was ultimately a blowout for Anthony Edwards and co.
“When we first started talking things were looking pretty good. Now they aren’t looking so well,” Blatt commented.
“Greece isn’t playing with their strongest team this year obviously,” Blatt remarked. “That’s unfortunate. for reasons of injury or illness or fatigue or whatever they dont have all their best players. but I’m always happy to see Greece competing. I love Greek basketball. I’ve always had. And I hope they get back to where at least. ”
Apart from winning EuroLeague, EuroCup, Eurochallenge and several domestic league titles, Blatt led the Russian national team to the 2007 EuroBasket gold medal, 2011 EuroBasket silver medal and 2012 Olympic Games bronze medal.
Watch the upcoming World Cup on the official streaming service of FIBA! Join Courtside 1891 and never miss a second of the action!
He explained how the 2010 World Cup helped pave the way for the 2011 and 2012 squads that got a spot on the podium.
“We played in the World Cup one time. And we only played. In 2010 we come to the World Cup without our main -players. Andrei Kirilenko and Viktor Khryapa didn’t play and Holden had already retired and he wasn’t there. We had a group of new players including Timofey Mozgov, Alexey Shved. We had a few veterans like Sergey Monya and Sergey Bykov. We actually really performed in the World Cup that year in 201o and we lost in the playoffs to USA.
The score was tied at halftime. The had Steph Curry, Kevin Durant. In the second half after we were tied, and KD scored like 20 or 22 points. we couldn’t stop him and they won the game by 10. And KD is one of my most favorite players so, in a way, it’s a good memory.
After that by the way we went to EuroBasket we won a bronze medal. And then we went to the Olympics and we won the medal also.
That World Cup helped us in the next two years.”