By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
David Blatt tipped his hat to his former player LeBron James, saying that the Los Angeles Lakers superstar is currently the best version of himself ever.
Here’s what Blatt said on LeBron in an interview to Greek National Television’s “Jump Ball”:
“How many guys have had the opportunity to coach the greatest player in the world? That’s pretty unusual and pretty unique. Certainly, I’m richer for that experience of working with LeBron and working in the NBA and participating in the NBA Finals. It didn’t end for me in the best way in the second year, but… I had a pretty good run for a European coach and even in my veryt short time in the NBA things were pretty good.”
“And I try not to look back with any regret. I’m fortunate that I had the opportunity to do the thing that I love and had the great experiences that I had.
“I think that what LeBron has done in the last year and a half at his age with the number of years that he’s played in the league… I think it’s absolutely phenomenal. I think he may be a better player now than he ever was and he was already the best player in the world. So you have to take your hat off to him and what he’s done, it’s exceptional.”
Blatt took over the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014, right after winning the EuroLeague championship with Maccabi Tel Aviv. It was the same summer that LeBron returned to the Cavs.
The Cavs dismissed Blatt in January 2016 and while the team was first in the Eastern Conference. In his return to Europe, he coached Darussafaka Istanbul, leading the team to the EuroLeague playoffs for the first time in the history of the club in 2017 and winning the EuroCup in 2018.
He then joined Olympiacos, with which he parted ways after he revealed that he has been diagnosed with PPMS (Primary-Progressive Multiple Sclerosis).
“Honestly, I look probably better than I feel,” Blatt said on his battle with the illness. “You know, it’s MS. It’s a difficult disease that generally over time – and the type of MS that I have – gets a little bit worse. Through the type of treatment that I’m doing, the hope is to maintain a sort of a ‘status quo’ of whatever it is that you are at the time when you are diagnosed. In addition to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, with the exercise, diet or proper habits. I’m holding up pretty good. I’m not what I used to be. I’m not jumping over buildings and I’m not chasing people around the court but overall I’m doing well and certainly keeping a positive attitude.”