“We are ready to support you in every possible way”: how in the basketball world they reacted to the illness of ex-coach of the Russian national team Blatt

Former head coach of the Russian national basketball team David Blatt, now heading the Greek Olympiacos, spoke about his serious health problems. A 60-year-old American specialist of Israeli descent wrote an open letter stating that he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

“Sometimes life gives you something that has no explanation, premises or reasons. Recognizing that you are experiencing just such a situation, you are faced with a choice that serves as a test of your true nature. A few months ago, I was diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis. This ailment has many forms, and in different people it manifests itself in different ways. This autoimmune disease can affect and really affects the quality of life and the ability to cope with even the most basic, familiar functions, ”Blatt wrote in a letter to the fans.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease in which the myelin sheath of the nerve fibers of the brain and spinal cord is affected.

Multiple sclerosis has nothing to do with memory loss, but it has many extremely unpleasant symptoms that can seriously affect your lifestyle. So, various visual disturbances, numbness in the extremities and loss of coordination, dizziness, fatigue, mental disorder may occur. All these signs may not exist at all - there are frequent cases when patients with multiple sclerosis continue to lead an active life. However, Blatt admitted that he was already feeling weak in his legs, quickly getting tired and losing his balance.

During treatment, the struggle is with the spread of new “plaques” in the place of nerve cells and negative symptoms that can occur both constantly and in the form of exacerbations.

Blatt so far limited to exercise courses to strengthen the physical condition of the body. The specialist said that he began to engage in swimming and is trying to improve the situation with muscle compliance. According to him, now he is trying to cope with involuntary muscle movements and cramping with a more active lifestyle.

Blatt is not talking about the end of Blatt’s coaching career. He remains the mentor of Olympiacos, who has been heading over a year. In his letter, the specialist did not leave a hint that he would stop his work.

“I am a coach, my job is to be a leader and mentor for many. The decrease in mobility and activity does not affect my ability to do such work. I got lucky. Excellent doctors, trainers, physiotherapists and managers work with me, who accept my limitations and help me cope. What am I to complain about? Nothing at all. I won’t, it’s a waste of energy. While I give my players and subordinates the installation to be the best version of myself, I have to ask and even demand the same from myself, ”the coach added.

Blatt does not lose his presence of spirit and is confident that he can cope with the most terrible manifestations of his illness. In this, the support of others helps him.

“I was lucky that so many kind and loving people came to the rescue, ready to support, help and at least understand that I, despite the fact that I began to look and function differently, remained the same person. They do not let me forget about it even in moments of sadness and confusion. With self-pity you only make it worse, getting into a position from which it is then even more difficult to get out, ”Blatt added in the letter.

After the letter was published on the Olympiakos website, the Euroleague Council of Head Coaches spoke with support to his colleague.

“For many, you are a guide and source of inspiration. With your recent remarks, you have once again established yourself in this capacity, fearlessly telling the public about your personal misfortune. Life difficulties are overcome by perseverance and optimism, with which you invariably lead. You proved it last season, you all serve as an example. In an open letter, you wrote that trainers are leaders and motivators who feel great in the face of difficulties. We are honored to have a colleague like you. We are ready to support you in every way on the upcoming path, ”the statement said.

Many European clubs have responded to this news by leaving encouraging posts on Olympiacos on Twitter. Among them were Moscow CSKA, Turkish Fenerbahçe, Serbian Crvena Zvezda, German Bavaria, Spanish Basque Country, Israeli Maccabi, as well as the International Basketball Federation and Euroleague.

Be strong 💪🙏🏻

Blatt himself after some time said that he received a lot of messages from Russia, with whose team he had one of the most important periods in his career.

“I receive words of support from my friends from Russia, you can’t imagine how much this means to me. Everything is fine, I will be strong, like a Russian, ”said RIA Novosti coach.

Blatt first appeared in Russia in 2004, heading the St. Petersburg Dynamo. He immediately led his team to victory in the FIBA ​​Challenge Cup, and then won the bronze medals of the national championship with it.

In 2006, Blatt became the head coach of the Russian team, while working in various Russian clubs. Under him, the national team achieved its most significant successes in the 21st century - it won Eurobasket 2007, took third place in the same tournament four years later, and won bronze medals at the London Olympics.

After leaving the national team after six years of work, Blatt focused on leading the Israeli Maccabi, and after winning the Euroleague he was on the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA team with LeBron James as the main star. Blatt in the first season led the team to the final of the playoffs, but was fired at the height of the next championship, when “Cleveland” took first place in the Eastern Conference. Later, the Cavaliers became the winners of the association, and Blatt got the championship ring. After the resignation, the specialist moved to the Turkish “Daryushshafaku”, with which he won the European Cup, and then ended up at “Olympiakos”.