David Blatt: I am thrilled and excited to join Darussafaka Dogus
Blatt's first interview as head coach of Dacka
Darüşşafaka Doğuş’s new head coach has been in Istanbul and giving his first interview in Turkey and talking about his new club.
David, welcome to Darüşşafaka Doğuş family. What are your first impressions?
First of all I’m thrilled and so excited to join this club and to join this project. All my life, I’ve looked for challenges and for places with positive ambition and vision with sustainability and continuity. Here at Daçka I’ve found people who have great desire to build, a great basketball club and great culture for sport. It appeals to me and I see an opportunity for great possibilities to build and grow a successful and special program. That’s why I came.
Which role had Turkey in your decision-making process?
I’m happy to come back to Turkey where I have found wonderful people and friendships. I have always seen sport as the best bridge to connect people and cultures from all over the world. To be part of the Dogus Group and to contribute to its vision as an international organization with the values of family, cooperation and excellence is an honour. I’m also happy to be part of the turkish league where I will find one of the best leagues in all of Europe as well as being part of the great new Euroleague system that will provide the fans all over the world with the highest quality of basketball and fan experience.
People like to call you “the chemist”. Please tell us why?
That’s an old nickname. Probably because I’ve worked in many, many different places and in many, many different cultures. I had the opportunity to coach a lot of great players from different parts of the world. Putting all those elements and all of those pieces together and to a successful winning formula has been something that I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of. It’s my philosophy as a coach and as a human being. The dynamic in team sport is so special and so valuable. When it comes to putting the pieces together and putting the people together, finding a way to make the whole greater than some of its parts. That’s sort of the way my career has gone. I hope to be able to do the same thing together with a great staff we’re going to build and the great players we hope to keep on our team from the past and those we look to add in the future.
What are your goals with Daçka for the future?
We hope to continue to build on a very positive season from last year and improve to what will be the toughest and most exciting Euroleague season ever. We look forward to be a competitive and dynamic team for the next years to come. And to build our culture and reputation as a team of the highest quality.
David, welcome to Darüşşafaka Doğuş family. What are your first impressions?
First of all I’m thrilled and so excited to join this club and to join this project. All my life, I’ve looked for challenges and for places with positive ambition and vision with sustainability and continuity. Here at Daçka I’ve found people who have great desire to build, a great basketball club and great culture for sport. It appeals to me and I see an opportunity for great possibilities to build and grow a successful and special program. That’s why I came.
Which role had Turkey in your decision-making process?
I’m happy to come back to Turkey where I have found wonderful people and friendships. I have always seen sport as the best bridge to connect people and cultures from all over the world. To be part of the Dogus Group and to contribute to its vision as an international organization with the values of family, cooperation and excellence is an honour. I’m also happy to be part of the turkish league where I will find one of the best leagues in all of Europe as well as being part of the great new Euroleague system that will provide the fans all over the world with the highest quality of basketball and fan experience.
People like to call you “the chemist”. Please tell us why?
That’s an old nickname. Probably because I’ve worked in many, many different places and in many, many different cultures. I had the opportunity to coach a lot of great players from different parts of the world. Putting all those elements and all of those pieces together and to a successful winning formula has been something that I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of. It’s my philosophy as a coach and as a human being. The dynamic in team sport is so special and so valuable. When it comes to putting the pieces together and putting the people together, finding a way to make the whole greater than some of its parts. That’s sort of the way my career has gone. I hope to be able to do the same thing together with a great staff we’re going to build and the great players we hope to keep on our team from the past and those we look to add in the future.
What are your goals with Daçka for the future?
We hope to continue to build on a very positive season from last year and improve to what will be the toughest and most exciting Euroleague season ever. We look forward to be a competitive and dynamic team for the next years to come. And to build our culture and reputation as a team of the highest quality.
E. Carchia
@Sportando
You must be registered to post a comment