Framingham's David Blatt eligible for Basketball Hall of Fame induction in 2024
Former Framingham South star David Blatt took the first step toward an ultimate basketball achievement.
The Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame announced its eligible candidates for the Class of 2024, and Blatt received a nomination from the international committee.
He coached two seasons in the NBA, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in 2015 during LeBron James' return to his hometown team. Blatt built his legacy as a top of the line coach in Israel, winning five Israeli Super League titles and six Israeli Cups. His Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv squad won the 2014 Euroleague title, and he captured the 2018 EuroCup championship with Darüşşafaka Basketbol of Turkey.
Blatt also achieved international success when he led Russia to the 2007 Eurobasket title behind Andrei Kirilenko's MVP performance. That qualified them for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where Blatt coached the team to ninth place.
He returned for the London 2012 games and captured a bronze medal following a bronze medal at the 2011 Eurobasket tournament.
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Blatt was named the Israeli Super League Coach of the Year four times (1996, 2002, 2011, and 2014), the Russian Super League Coach of the Year in 2005 and the EuroLeague Coach of the Year in 2014.
He played college basketball at Princeton from 1978-81, appearing in 80 games. Blatt averaged 5.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists. He represented the United States at the 1981 Maccabi Games and won a gold medal before embarking on a 12-year professional career in Israel.
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Blatt last coached full time at Olympiacos in 2019 before retiring after receiving a multiple sclerosis diagnosis. He's served as a consultant for Maccabi Tel Aviv, the Canadian national team and this season's top-5 Arizona men's team.
His nomination class also includes the 2008 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team, Vince Carter, Seimone Augustus and Bill Laimbeer, among others. The finalists will be announced Friday, February 16, during NBA All-Star weekend in Indianapolis. The Class of 2024 will be unveiled during the NCAA men's Final Four in Phoenix this April. The induction ceremony will take place in August in Springfield.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: David Blatt eligible for Basketball Hall of Fame Induction in 2024
