Former Cavaliers coach David Blatt is continuing to live his basketball dream despite a multiple sclerosis diagnosis six years ago that took away his ability to walk. In an interview with Sam Amick of The Athletic, Blatt discussed his health and role with the Canadian Olympic team.
“That’s the way you’ve gotta be,” Blatt said of his resilience. “That’s the way you’ve gotta be. That’s what this sport and this business has taught me. If you ain’t working, you ain’t living. And if you’re not trying to improve, then you’re going backward. That’s the only thing you can do.”
Despite not coaching from the sideline, he’s serving as a consultant for Canada. Blatt takes part in all team activities and spends his time helping Canada head coach Jordi Fernandez with what is and isn’t working with the team’s rotations.
“I think the thing more than anything else is that you learn, when you’re faced with this kind of thing, is that you learn how to be as effective and fulfilled at the same time as you can, when you can,” Blatt said. “You can be as good as you want to be within the limitations that you’re faced with.”
We have more from around the basketball world:
- Former first-round pick Justin Patton signed with Greek club Peristeri BC, the team announced in a release. Patton was the 16th overall pick in 2017 and was part of the draft-night trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves. He was also part of the deal that sent Butler to Philadelphia. He played four seasons in the NBA with Minnesota, Philadelphia, Oklahoma City and Houston from 2017-21. In 22 career games (six starts), Patton averaged 3.9 points and 2.7 rebounds.
- The majority of trade activity from teams this offseason is likely over and the next flurry of movement is likely to take place after players become eligible for trade after Dec. 15 and Jan. 15. Last year saw 25 in-season trades and after a year in which major pieces like Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby and Immanuel Quickley changed hands, it’s likely we’ll see more big names on the move at this year’s deadline, as is generally typical. Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report names D’Angelo Russell, Brandon Ingram, Jerami Grant, Cameron Johnson, Kyle Kuzma, Zach LaVine, Bruce Brown, Collin Sexton and Trae Young as the most likely players to dominate trade rumors this coming season. Pincus also sees members of the 2021 class like Jonathan Kuminga, Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green and Corey Kispert as potential trade block pieces if they can’t come to terms on extensions, much like Quickley last season.
- In the same piece, Pincus expresses that the Rockets holding onto Jeff Green, Jock Landale and Jae’Sean Tate‘s contracts is a sign they’re working on a bigger trade. Pincus’s sources also ponder whether Jaden Ivey or Miles Bridges could also be on the move.
- NBA legend Dwyane Wade made his game-calling debut in the 2024 Paris Olympics on NBC. NBC, alongside Amazon and ESPN, acquired the media rights to broadcast NBA games starting next season, but Wade said it was too early to say whether his activities this offseason hint at a potential broadcasting future, according to Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews. “I’m just having fun with it as well, and I think it could be a future if everything lines up the way it needs to. But I’m not going to put any pressure on it either,” Wade said.
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