Blatt’s dismissal makes LeBron James persona non grata among Israeli hoops fans

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL— The Cavaliers suddenly have far fewer fans in Israel after the firing of David Blatt.

The shock announcement on Friday was taken personally by many fans in Israel, where the Boston-born Blatt made his name professionally, met his wife and raised his family.

News of the firing topped all Israeli newscasts Saturday, knocking Middle East violence off the headlines.

The provincial pride in Blatt was suddenly replaced with anger toward the Cavs and their perceived coldhearted send-off. Most of the venom was directed at LeBron James, the Cleveland superstar who had a rocky relationship with Blatt.

“Finally I can go back to hating LeBron without feeling guilty . . . hope he never sees a title in his life,” said Gil Eyal, a 38-year-old Israeli hightech executive who typically supports the Boston Celtics.

A talk news show ranked it the top story of the week, with panelist Aviv Bushinsky lamenting how Blatt’s amazing season had ended “because of one man: LeBron James.”

The anguish was felt vividly online and in social networks, with one joke that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would blame the firing on U.S.President Barack Obama.

The 56-year-old Blatt is possibly Israel’s favourite son, thanks to his winning record, outgoing personality and unabashed Israeli patriotism.

Blatt grew up in the United States and played his college ball at Princeton but has called Israel home since 1981, when he first arrived to play for the U.S. at the Maccabiah Games. A solid playing career in the Israeli league followed, before an even more successful coaching career began in 1993. He’s married to an Israeli woman, Kinneret, and raised his four children here.

Then, almost overnight, the Cavs became “Israel’s team” in the NBA, replacing traditional favourites.

But not anymore.