OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – The path to the NBA Finals for Steve Kerr and David Blatt, a rare pair of rookie coaches on basketball’s biggest stage, started with a meeting organized by their agent at Los Angeles International Airport last June.
The two clicked immediately, talking about their philosophies for basketball and life, and Kerr offered Blatt a spot on his new staff with the Golden State Warriors. Blatt, a successful coach internationally, had been waiting for the right opportunity to break into the NBA and initially accepted.
Then, an unexpected call gave their plans a twist.
When the Cleveland Cavaliers asked Blatt to interview for their coaching vacancy, Kerr encouraged him to seek the job. Now the next time they see each other will be from opposite benches when the Warriors host the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the finals Thursday night.
“No way we could’ve guessed back then that we’d be facing each other in the NBA Finals less than a year later. It’s crazy to think about,” Kerr said, echoing his counterpart’s amazement.