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Very sad news coming out of the basketball world today, as former Cavaliers head coach David Blatt says he has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
The 60-year-old, who is currently the head coach of Olympiacos of the Greek Basket League and the EuroLeague, claimed to receive the auto immune disease diagnosis ‘a few months ago” but plans to keep coaching for the foreseeable future.
“I am a coach and my job is to lead and teach and inspire a lot of people,” Blatt said in a statement on the Olympiacos website. “Not being as agile or active doesn’t affect my ability to do those things. I am fortunate. I have great doctors trainers physical therapists and management that accept my disabilities and help me overcome. How could I possibly complain? I absolutely cannot and will not. It’s wasted effort and while I ask my players and staff to be the best version of themselves, I must ask and even demand from myself to do the same.”
Blatt went on to say that while the diagnosis manifests itself differently for different people, for him, he is experiencing weakness in his legs, fatigue, and diminished strength and balance.
Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. While one can live a long life with MS, often times secondary complications associated with the disease end up being fatal–ie immobility and compromised breathing or swallowing.
Blatt ended the letter with a quote from the great John Wooden: ‘Things work out best for people who make the best of how things work out.’
The Princeton-educated coach led the Cavs to the 2015 NBA Finals in his first season as head coach and to the top of the conference the following year before getting fired mid-season and returning to coach in Europe.