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

Tristan Thompson, former Cleveland Cavaliers player, recently spoke about his former coach David Blatt during a reunion of the 2016 championship team. Blatt was fired during the 2015-16 NBA season despite the Cavaliers leading the Eastern Conference. The team went on to win their first-ever NBA title that season after overcoming a 3-1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors.

Thompson emphasized that Blatt was initially hired to develop the young core of the team, including himself, Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters, and Tyler Zeller, before LeBron James returned. He noted that Blatt was brought in for his success in the EuroLeague and was highly respected, especially in Israel, where fans would travel to see him coach. Cleveland valued Blatt’s potential and had Tyronn Lue ready to take over if needed, especially once LeBron rejoined the team.

Thompson described Blatt as a "coach of the old school" who valued toughness, defense, and physical play, which suited Thompson’s style. He acknowledged the difficult position Blatt was in, coaching a team expected to win immediately without prior NBA experience. Thompson said, "You can't blame LeBron for saying 'I can't win with this guy.'"

Regarding the famous timeout in the previous season against Chicago, Thompson recalled the team discussing it during their reunion. LeBron had overridden Blatt’s play call to take the final shot himself, which Thompson said was a pivotal moment. Blatt accepted the decision, understanding the player-driven nature of the NBA. Thompson concluded that someone likely advised Blatt to stay out of the conflict, recognizing it was not his battle to fight.

The conversation highlights the complex dynamics between Blatt, the players, and LeBron James during a transformative period for the Cavaliers, underscoring Blatt’s important but challenging role in their championship journey.