Cleveland, Jan 23 (EFE).- David Blatt has confirmed that the Cleveland Cavaliers fired him as their head coach, a position that his assistant, Tyronn Lue, will now occupy.

Blatt led the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals last season and coached the team to an Eastern Conference-best 30-11 record through the halfway point of 2015-2016, but, according to U.S. media outlets, his inability to win the trust of four-time league MVP LeBron James was his undoing.

“I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers. I’d like to thank (owner) Dan Gilbert and (general manager) David Griffin for giving me this opportunity and am honored to have worked with an amazing group of players from LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love through our entire roster,” he said in a statement Friday.

“I’d also like to express my extreme gratitude to my coaching staff. I am indebted to them for their professionalism, hard work, loyalty and friendship. I am proud of what we have accomplished since I have been the head coach and wish the Cavaliers nothing but the best this season and beyond.”

The Cavaliers have won eight of their last 10 games, but one of those losses was a blowout defeat at home last Monday at the hands of the defending champion Golden State Warriors, who bested Cleveland four games to two in last year’s NBA Finals. EFE

On Saturday morning, James spoke to reporters about the sudden dismissal of Blatt, explaining to ESPN that he was caught off guard by the decision.

James admitted that he has been close friends with new coach Lue, but he downplayed any ideas about having influenced Blatt’s firing.