This "interview" was not held with the media but as part of a business conferece of Google-Israel. The "intereviewer" is Google-Israel CEO and therefore it's more about success, failure and technology rather than about basketball. Anyway, I have translated it:
"I needed a slap in the face to realize just how much I didn't understand"
David Blatt coached the Cavs for 1.5 years, maybe the most difficult place to be coaching, while the biggest superstar in the world, LeBron James, runs the show. 2 months ago, while leading the eastern conference with 30:11, he was surprisingly fired. Since then Blatt has kept quiet and haven't interviewed. Recently he came back to Israel for a visit after spending few months in the states, where he have met other coaches and participated in seminars. Few days ago he sat down with the general manager of Google-Israel, Meir Brand, as part of "Think 2017" convention, and talked about the most hectic period in his coaching career and revealed a bit on what he is going through.
Q:
The past year must have been like roller-coaster for you
A: It wasn't exactly like I have planned it to be, but sometimes these things are part of life. Sometimes you start somewhere, you go up, you go down, sometimes you stay, sometimes you vanished, but as long as you enjoy the ride and find a way to enrich yourself with new experiences - the future is bright. I was fortunate enough to be a part of many successes during my coaching career. When people ask me what is the greatest thing you have done, I always give the same answer - that the people who worked with me, and particularly my assistants who helped me to reach these amazing peaks, are now working and succeeding on their own at organisations and teams which are just as good as teams I have coached. I feel proud and get real satisfaction to watch them surpass me. It's a great joy.
Q:
Talent comes frequently with ego. How do you channel the egos of various talents for a one common cause?
A: the word ego has a bad connotation in the Sports world. I don't believe that rightfully so. I believe ego is a good thing. It shows that this guy believes in his abilities, and aspires to be the best possible individual. The most important thing is to find the way combine that ego and talent together in order to meet the teams' goals and help everybody in the organisation to be successful.
Q:
It's easier to say than done, right?
A: Sure, that's why I'm here.
Q:
Have you ever had times where you failed doing so?
A: I have failed. Not many times but also not just a few. When I look at it retrospectively, I see that even when I failed it helped me be more successful in the future.
Q:
The past year was one heck of year for you. What have you learned from the that year?
A: I have learned about the transition from the European basketball to the states and to the NBA, this is how much I needed to learn; how much I wasn't realizing what I am about to go through, how much I didn't know about that style of play, the game itself, the structure of the season, how the league is structured, the intensity of the schedule, the players personalities; and without going through that first year in the NBA, which gladly was very successful, I don't think I could have understood it. I needed this trial by fire, to be in it, to get the slaps and the punches to realize just how much I didn't understand, in order to be better in the future.
Q:
Is it really that different than coaching in Europe? How would you describe the differences?
A: The coaching part is not really different, but the league itself, the duration of the game, which is 48 minutes in oppose to 40 minutes, 82 games in just 5.5 months, how you keep your players fresh, it's totally different. In Europe you have 2 matches a week while in the NBA you sometimes have 4-5 matches in a week with totally different pace, and also everything around the NBA is totally different and crazy. The game outside the game itself.
Q:
Technology changes the world. How it affects in the basketball world? Does it change the game?
A: Technology is very trendy nowadays, particularly in the NBA. I don't think that there is any other professional Sport which uses Technology more than the NBA. There are 6 cameras shooting each detail and get tons of information and analysis you use in real-time, pre-match, and post match - and you need to assimilate and comprehend. It takes an analytic mind and stuff that a coach shouldn't had to deal with in the past. If you are not ready for it, you would find yourself out.
Q:
Do you think that coaches who can't cope with technology would find themselves out? (well, he just said that...)
A: yes, certainly. The differences between being a professional athlete in the times when I was one to being a professional coach are vast. Soon as you start coaching you sleep much less, you worry much more, and once you get the job, everyone all of a sudden think they know much more than you do.
Q:
How is to live far from home and family? is it hard?
A: It is really difficult, but it's also a choice. It's not for everyone and not for every family. luckily I have a very loving and supporting family. I can only regret the moments I missed, but I also hope I could help my family members with my experiences and the things that I went through here, and that it helped them with their lives.
quick questionnaire:
Q:
What is your favourite word?
A: yes
Q:
what scares you?
A: only fear itself
Q:
what is your favorite sound?
A: laughter
Q:
What is your least favorite sound?
A: Journalists
Q:
If you weren't a coach, what would you be?
A: Ambassador
Q:
A figure who inspires you?
A: Mothers, because we are not like them, and we can't be like them. (
huh?)