The Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off the nearly impossible feat this year by winning an NBA Championship with a head coach who took over int he middle of the season. David Blatt, who started the NBA season as the Cavs head coach, led the Cavs to a 30-11 record before being let go in the middle of January.
Although it was a shocking move at the time for an organization that came up just two games short of an NBA title with a rookie head coach and without two of their best players, it turned out to be the right move. The Cavs played with much more pace, more involvement of players in the offense, and with more excitement within the team.
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Once the Cavs won the NBA Championship in dramatic fashion coming back from a 3-1 deficit, Tyronn Lue immediately though of his former boss and mentor in David Blatt.
Per Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com:
“That’s the first thing I said when we won, that we need to get coach Blatt a ring. I had to fight him a little bit,” Lue said. “He didn’t want to do it. But he definitely deserves one. I’m glad he accepted it and I’m glad the organization is going to get him one.”
After the Cavs’ preseason opening victory over the Orlando Magic, James was asked about giving Blatt a ring. The Cavs leader LeBron James, who had his run-ins with coach Blatt during his time with the Cavaliers, saw no issue with the team’s decision to give Blatt a ring.
“That’s an organizational thing and if that’s what they wanted to do then we’re all for it. Who am I to say who can or can’t get a ring?”
In addition to Blatt, the Cavs have also offered a championship ring to former player and current Golden State Warrior, Anderson Varejao. Owner Dan Gilbert has also said that he will buy replica rings for over 1,000 Cavs’ and Quicken Loans Arena employees.