David Blatt: 'There will be NBA franchises in Europe soon' / News - Basketnews.com

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The Israeli American basketball coach David Blatt has worked in the NBA and with the elite European clubs. BasketNews connected with the famous specialist to discuss how the international game is catching up to the NBA game. And what the future could look like according to these trends.

The first part of the interview, where Mr. Blatt talked about the Olympic Games, could be read here.

The strength gap between the NBA and international basketball has been debated for decades. However, today some would argue that the differences between player quality and a general understanding of basketball are the narrowest of all times. Perhaps, it's worth noting that we are talking about two different basketball brands. So even a comparison might not be very fitting from a methodological point of view, but coach, what's your take on this convergence debate? - BasketNews asked David Blatt via a phone conversation.

I think for not just in the last couple of years, but a few decades, we have seen great growth in the game of basketball, not only in Europe but worldwide. And obviously, this is reflected in the number of non-USA players that are currently playing in the NBA. It's over 25%! From a quality standpoint, from a development standpoint, and from a performance standpoint, there is no question that the game and the difference between the two different schools of basketball, whether it be NBA basketball or basketball worldwide, the gap is significantly less. Five years ago, I said that in 10 years, there would be a minimum of one, if not, two NBA franchises in Europe. Now, I ask for another five years, it may be some time between now and the next ten years that we will see it.

There's no question that the game has grown worldwide and that the gap both in terms of talent level and in terms of the quality of the game is much, much smaller than it was even 20 years ago. I think it's very interesting that even in the eighties and in the nineties, and in the very beginning of 2000, there were many players from outside of the United States that could have played in the NBA. And if those players were playing now, they would be in the NBA. Just at that time, there was a stigma about players from outside the US in terms of their ability to play in the NBA game that no longer exists. And this is probably the biggest indication of how the game has progressed.

When I think back about players like Oscar Schmidt from Brazil: today, he would be a starting player and maybe the leading scorer in all of the NBA. But at that time, they didn't see him as an NBA candidate. The way the game is played today, you couldn't find a more perfect multipurpose forward than Oscar! I think this is the best indication that years ago, players that have been stigmatized as not being able to play in the NBA game would have been excellent NBA players in the way the game is played today, particularly.These players were ahead of their time both physically and in terms of their style.

You coached top-level European teams, and you also worked in the NBA. And there are others. For instance, Sergio Scariolo became an NBA champion as an assistant coach in Toronto. Igor Kokoshov worked as an assistant and the head coach in the NBA for many years. We observe more and more NBA teams utilizing European-style actions such as the Spanish Pick and Roll or the Spanoulis cut on a regular basis. Regarding coaching, how do you see the interaction between the NBA and the rest of the world?

I would say that it was a long time coming, but I give credit to the NBA staffs and coaches that recognized this: "Hey, there are other ways to do things, and these ways are good ways that can help us to be successful in achieving our goals and then creating the kind of basketball that is suitable and fitting for today's game."

And you know, that's progress. You know what I mean? Now everybody talks about shooting and the importance of a 3-point shot or spacing the floor and spreading the floor. I mean, where do you think that this came from? This came from Europe, without question.

This is why I mentioned the guy like Oscar Schmidt. A little bit later in his career, he was a power forward and a great shooter. And he played in the time without the 3-point shot for most of his career! Could you only imagine what he would do in today's game? So, the game has changed, and the NBA has adopted many of those changes. One of the great adjustments that coach Popovich made in the short Olympic tournament was he recognized that we needed to play with Kevin Durant more as four or as power forward or even center at times so that we could take advantage of his ability to space the floor and create open shot opportunities, and also give other players the chance to play with more spacing.

And, and this has changed the fortunes of the United States, I believe. Even Adebayo, who starts as a center, has the ability to take a mid-range shot. And you saw that in Miami when he was playing there, that he improved that because this is the way the game is going. I still believe there is very much a place for a true big man, but it is not a 40-minute-a-game type of situation any longer. It's those moments in the game where you take advantage of teams that are switching even with their five man as their center defender.

And you use a big man who can pick and cut or pick and roll like Rudy Gobert, and you can create easy shot opportunities, particularly when that big guy, not only is he rolling in for a score, but he can catch, turn and pass the like Gobert has shown the ability to do. So the game has changed and grown and developed, and in no small part, the ideas for those changes came from outside of the USA.

Do you think more and more European coaches can make it in the NBA? For some big names, such as Ergin Ataman or Zeljko Obradovic, this topic is frequently discussed. Do you think there could be a cultural barrier blocking the traffic on the coaching level between the NBA and the rest of the world?

Can they do it? Of course, they can. I mean, the bigger question is who will give them a chance, and do they want, for example, Zeljko Obradovic? I don't think, and I don't believe that he wanted to, or that he wants to. Perhaps with coach Ataman, it's something different. I respectfully allow him to give his own opinion, but of course, they can make it in the NBA. And slowly, but surely you will see a few more European coaches coming into the NBA.

Credit BasketNews.lt/V.Mikaitis

It's already happening; as assistant coaches. And it will happen again as head coach one day. It is a very special, challenging, and difficult job, but there are many great candidates all over the world. I don't think that the issue is the ability of those coaches. I think it's more of a cultural thing right now. But in time, that will pass too. The cultural barriers will pass away for coaches, just like the ones that existed in the 80s and 90s for players.

Last question: I'd like to have your opinion about two players. One of them is your son, Tamir Blatt. He is obviously an excellent talent. We are all excited about his upcoming EuroLeague season with ALBA Berlin. Another is Alperen Sengun, the new Houston Rockets draftee from Turkey. How do you see the progress of these players?

I am also very excited for my son to be in the EuroLeague and to play with such a great program like ALBA Berlin. And I know he will meet this challenge as he has met all the challenges in his career.I'm happy for him and excited for him. He is ready, and I look forward to following his progress as I always do.He's been working very hard all his life, and he's an excellent shooter because he takes good shots, and he makes them.

Credit FIBA

Regarding Sengun, I actually thought he would get drafted a little bit higher and I did see him this summer in Canada (during Olympic Qualifier Tournament).And I have seen him, of course, on video, and I think he has a chance to be a good NBA player.

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