Great News for David Blatt: Lebron Is Coming Home

On Wednesday June 25th, after a month of speculation, former Maccabi Tel Aviv head coach – who lead the team to the EuroLeague championship this year – David Blatt officially joined the Cleveland Cavaliers as head coach.

“I hope I bring the philosophy of Maccabi Tel Aviv, which is never lose a game,” the Israeli-American declared at a press conference. “Not one or there’s going to be a countrywide investigation.” Then, he added to the amusement of the reporters in the room, “I hope the manager didn’t hear me say that.”

Now, today, the first European head coach to take over an NBA team has received some exemplary, albeit, somewhat unexpected news: the rumors were true, King James is returning to Cleveland to take back his throne.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, and four years after he led the Cavaliers franchise – which resulted in burning Lebron James jerseys, demonizing him publicly, and being accused of a “cowardly betrayal” by owner Dan Gilbert – James has announced that he’s coming back, after winning two championships with the Heat, and losing (very poorly) in this year’s finals against San Antonio.

“I’m not having a press conference or a party,” James said in the report. “After this, it’s time to get to work.”

After last year’s tremendously poor showing – the Cavs have failed to make the playoffs all four years Lebron’s been away – the move can bring the Cleveland Cavaliers back to superstardom, and might also attract a plethora of Jewish and Israeli fans who have been rooting for Blatt since he made the move to the U.S.

Lebron will join Kyrie Irving, Andrew Wiggins, Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson in Cleveland. Their .311 winning percentage over the last four years, the worst in the league, will no doubt skyrocket for the 2014-15 season.

Will the Cavs – who have never won a championship – be able to make it to the finals with this brand new, revamped team? Will Blatt and James start a long-lasting relationship that may eventually prompt Lebron to visit Israel?

Only time will tell. In the interim, a heartfelt mazel tov to the Israeli-American coach for being pretty damn lucky in these proceedings. It’s been a hell of a 2014 for him.