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New York Knicks: Top 10 candidates to replace Jeff Hornacek as head coach

By Maxwell Ogden

New York Knicks (Photo by Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images)
New York Knicks (Photo by Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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KRASNODAR, RUSSIA – APRIL 09: David Blatt, Head Coach of Darussafaka Istanbul during the 7DAYS EuroCup Basketball Finals Darussafaka Istanbul Training Session at Basket Hall on April 9, 2018 in Krasnodar, Russia. (Photo by Marina Kobzeva/EB via Getty Images)
KRASNODAR, RUSSIA – APRIL 09: David Blatt, Head Coach of Darussafaka Istanbul during the 7DAYS EuroCup Basketball Finals Darussafaka Istanbul Training Session at Basket Hall on April 9, 2018 in Krasnodar, Russia. (Photo by Marina Kobzeva/EB via Getty Images) /

David Blatt

If all you know about David Blatt is that LeBron James didn’t like him very much, you should do a bit more homework. Blatt is one of the greatest coaches in European basketball history, as well as one of the most respected minds in the entire sport.

Thus, while Blatt’s tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers may have ended in a less than ideal manner, he’s one of the best possible options for the New York Knicks.

Over the course of his 123 regular season games as head coach of the Cavaliers, Blatt accumulated a record of 83-40. He also helped Cleveland reach the 2015 NBA Finals and had the team at No. 1 in the Eastern Conference standings when he was fired.

He also led Maccabi Tel Aviv to the 2014 EuroLeague Championship, Russia to a EuroBasket gold medal, and has won seven league titles between Israel, Italy, and the Adriatic League.

The key to Blatt’s success has been his ability to orchestrate a modernized version of the Princeton Offense. He’s also regarded as a high-quality defensive coach who can convince his players to buy in on a nightly basis.

A friend of current Knicks president Steve Mills, Blatt has an in with the organization and the experience to coach a roster with two European franchise cornerstones.

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