By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
David Blatt disclosed his future plans to Boston Globe in his first interview after parting ways with Olympiacos. Basketball has dominated his life so far, but the Israeli-American revealed that he would like to become an ambassador for Israel.
“I’ve always had the dream to be an ambassador, a diplomat in Israel” mentioned the 60-year-old, “In some way I’d want to help the country.”
His departure from the EuroLeague club came a couple of months after announcing he had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. His former team’s poor performance in the opening week of Europe’s premier competition led him to the exit.
“I don’t want to use my illness as an excuse, but in my discussions with management, I had to be honest about certain limitations I had,” he confessed, “But more so, there were many problems in the team. We had only played one game. It did not start well. Together we sat and decided it was better for everyone that we part ways. No hard feelings.”
“I’m looking forward to my next steps and challenges, as I have always wanted to do more” added Blatt, “After 12 years as a professional player and 27 as a coach, time to enter a new phase of life. I relish it. Sometimes the window closes and the door opens.”