Jordi Fernandez gives credit to David Blatt: 'He's like my angel' / News - Basketnews.com

Canada national team head coach Jordi Fernandez revealed David Blatt was like an angel to him throughout the whole FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 campaign, praising him for the way he deals with multiple sclerosis and his bright basketball mind.

Credit: Wu Zhuang/Xinhua via ZUMA Press-Scanpix Credit Wu Zhuang/Xinhua via ZUMA Press-Scanpix

Canada national team head coach Jordi Fernandez just won the bronze medal after he and his team defeated Team USA in the 3rd-place game, but the 40-year-old tactician had one special person to thank.

Player of the Game EFF 42 Dillon Brooks Points 39 Accuracy 12-18 Rebounds 4 Assists 5

"I want to thank two special people to me: one is my wife Kelsie, and thank to coach David Blatt. I'm sure you guys are familiar with him. He is like my angel and always there for me," Fernandez said during the post-game conference.

Blatt was brought into Canada's national team as a consultant, and Fernandez shared their background. As you could expect, Fernandez's European roots played a big part.

"One of the reasons I got a job is my background and experience," Fernandez said. "I worked in the NBA for 15 years, but I was born and raised in a city outside Barcelona – Badalona. It's one of the best basketball cities in the world. I lived there until I was 26 years old."

"I have my own path of learning in the NBA and FIBA. I think it's one of the reasons why they trusted me and gave me a job. The only thing I can say is thanks for believing in me, this has been a great experience. I've grown a lot as a person and as a coach. There have been a lot of things I could've done better, but I'm ready to work again for the Olympics," Fernandez continued.

Meanwhile, Fernandez and Blatt's paths crossed in the Cleveland Cavaliers at first.

"I worked with coach Blatt in Cleveland," Fernandez began. "He and I had a great connection. I was the head coach of the G-League team. He was my boss, but obviously, I knew where he came from."

"I watched him coaching for many years. He's one of the best who has ever done it. His personality, how smart he is, how he communicates," Fernandez praised Blatt.

"Obviously, we connected. You guys know what happened to him. After that, not just getting fired but getting the health condition… I have a lot of respect for how he deals with it and how much he has done for me.

There are no bad days for him. He shows up with a positive attitude, and he helps me and everybody else. It means the world to me and the organization," Fernandez concluded.

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