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CLEVELAND, June 2 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Cavaliers head coach David Blatt that his entire country -- about 8 million citizens -- is rooting for his team to win the NBA Finals. That's good news, since the Cavs are det to face the Golden State Warriors for the 2015 NBA Finals Thursday night.
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Blatt, a dual-citizen of Israel and the United States, told reporters Sunday Netanyahu reached out to him last week to congratulate him on leading his team -- including prodigal son LeBron James -- to the finals. If they win, Blatt will become the first Israeli citizen to win an NBA title.
Blatt told the Northeast Ohio Media Group that he and the powerful leader are close enough to use nicknames, but he still prefers to use the Hebrew translation of "Mr. Prime Minister" out of respect.
Blatt has coached internationally in Israel, Russia and Italy, bringing his Russian team to win the bronze in the London Olympics in 2012. This season has been particularly challenging for the well-traveled but new-to-the-NBA coach: Lebron James decided to play for the Cavaliers just two weeks after Blatt signed on to the team.
James recently told reporters he thought Blatt did well, despite some obvious hang-ups between their differing styles of coaching and playing. "Being a rookie coach in the NBA, being able to take his team to the Finals, I think he's done a helluva job," he said Monday.
Blatt has received positive feedback from many world (and sports-world) leaders, but has yet to hear from President Obama.
"I have been fortunate enough to hear from the Prime Minister of Israel, to the then-prime minister and president of Russia (Dmitry Medvedev) and there's nothing I would like better than to hear from (President Barack) Obama," said Blatt. "That sort of covered all the bases, wouldn't it?"
