Tristan Thompson Reflects on David Blatt's Role in Cleveland's 2016 Championship Run

Tristan Thompson, former Cleveland Cavaliers player, recently discussed the impact of coach David Blatt during the Cavaliers' 2015-16 NBA season, which culminated in the franchise's first-ever championship. Blatt was fired mid-season despite the team leading the Eastern Conference, and the Cavaliers went on to win the title after overcoming a 3-1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors.

Thompson emphasized that Blatt was originally hired to develop the young core of the team, including Thompson himself, Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters, and Tyler Zeller, before LeBron James returned. He noted that Blatt's success in the EuroLeague and his status as a superstar coach in Israel were well recognized, and Cleveland valued his potential. However, Blatt faced a difficult situation coaching a team expected to win immediately, without prior NBA experience.

Thompson praised Blatt's coaching style, describing him as a traditional coach who valued toughness, defense, and physical play, which suited Thompson's game. He acknowledged the challenges Blatt faced, saying, "If you win, you get fired; if you lose, you get fired." Thompson also defended LeBron James, stating it was understandable that LeBron felt he could not win with Blatt.

Regarding a famous timeout during the previous season's playoffs against Chicago, Thompson recalled a team reunion where they discussed how LeBron took over the final play, discarding Blatt's original plan to take the winning shot himself. Thompson highlighted the player-driven nature of the NBA and suggested that Blatt was advised to step back from that critical moment.

Overall, Thompson expressed respect and affection for Blatt, recognizing his contributions to the team's growth and the eventual championship success.