David Blatt led Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in his first season and nearly became the first coach to win the EuroLeague title and NBA crown in back-to-back seasons.

Cleveland Cavaliers coach David Blatt is still getting love from legendary coaches. The way, the Cavs are shaping up right now, Blatt could possibly be the first coach to win a Euroleague title and an NBA title in consecutive seasons. Not many can say that.

CALIPARI: BLATT’S A BETTER CHOICE THAN ME

Kentucky coach John Calipari is a great coach and will no doubt be regarded as one of the finest coaches ever to grace a basketball sideline.

Before LeBron and before David Blatt came to Cleveland though, owner Dan Gilbert offered Calipari a $60million deal to come to the Cavs. Calipari turned the offer down, choosing instead to concentrate on the Wildcats.

But Calipari says that Blatt was a much better choice anyway.

Via Sirus NBA Radio (written by The Plain)

Before LeBron James announced his return to Cleveland and prior to David Blatt being named the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, owner Dan Gilbert had eyes for Kentucky head coach John Calipari.

Reports from Yahoo Sports in early June had Calipari being offered a $60 million-plus deal by the Cavs, which he turned down, electing to stay in the college ranks.

“David Blatt can really coach,” Calipari told Frank Isola and Malik Rose during an interview on Sirius XM NBA Radio. “He’s a better choice than me to coach that team. I coached against him. I’m not sitting here just saying it. I coached against him in FIBA basketball. I watched him coach Russia, the guy can coach, OK? 

SILVER: IT’S UP TO THE PLAYER IF THEY WANT TO PLAY FOR COUNTRY 

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has stated that it remains a personal decision for an NBA player if they want to play for their respective national team or not.

This is in response to Dallas Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban’s public opinion on international basketball, basically saying that FIBA is getting rich off the NBA.

“It is a big risk without enormous financial reward,” Silver said when asked about a sentiment shared by outspoken Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban during a “Commitment to Service” news conference to discuss a collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense at Madison Square Garden.

“I’ll only reiterate that ultimately it is a personal decision for these players,” Silver said. “I should point out that it is not just U.S. players we are referring to. Collectively we have close to 50 NBA players participating in this World Cup on behalf of their national teams.”