Two weeks before the regular season concluded, the RGV Vipers were looking up at a long list of things that needed to happen before they could accomplish what then seemed improbable, if not impossible — make the playoffs.
They checked those requirements off one at a time, winning just enough times, getting hot at the right moment and getting some help as teams above them dropped in what was a traffic jam for the final playoff spot.
Now, the Vipers are two wins away from a fifth NBA G League Championship after defeating Sioux Falls on the road Sunday to capture the G League Western Conference Championship.
“I want one for the thumb,” Vipers CEO Rene Borrego said during a new conference to introduce first-year head coach Kevin Burleson. The “one for the thumb” reference dates back to the rallying cry of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1981 as the four-time Super Bowl championship squad made a push for a fifth ring, which they accomplished at Super Bowl XL then won a sixth ring in Super Bowl XLIII.
The Vipers will play the Delaware Blue Coats in the best-of-three G League Championship series. Game 1 will be held at 8 p.m. at Delaware. The Vipers return home for Game 2, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and, if necessary, Game 3 will take place at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Delaware.
Jarrett Culver, acquired in a trade with the College Park Skyhawks on Jan. 26, 2023, scored 26 points and pulled down a career- and game-high 15 rebounds to lead RGV past Sioux Falls 110-105. The Texas Tech product helped the Vipers outscore the Syforce 38-38 in the fourth quarter top overcome a five-point deficit in the period.
“He has been unreal for us. He’s a great person and player,” Vipers General Manager Travis Stockbridge said of Culver. “He has done stuff for us and kept us in games offensively, and in so many different roles. I told him that a lot of guys in his shoes would not embrace this opportunity the way he has.
“We knew he was a talented player but his ability to handle different roles is what has been super impressive.”
TyTy Washington Jr., on assignment from the Houston Rockets, added 26 points and Trevor Hudgins chipped in 18 despite being just 2-for-11 from 3-point land and the Vipers shooting 20% from beyond the arc.
The Vipers have had a streaky year including a losing streak of five straight to start the regular season at 1-5. They are now on a five-game win streak, their third win streak of at least five games this season, including a six-game one when they were 10-12.
“Well, we started the season in a hole but knew how good we could be,” Stockbridge said. “It’s not like this team wasn’t good enough and flipped a magic switch. We knew we would be good enough to make some noise like we are doing now.
“Everything fell into place and coach has done a great job keeping the team locked in. He knew we still had a chance at this thing and he kept the guys present. And our guys made big plays and all those key plays reinforced the belief among the team.”
This will be the seventh G League Championship Series appearance for the Vipers. No other team has more than four.
The Vipers’ four titles, which includes a sweep over Delaware last year, are also the most by any G League team with three other teams each holding two championships. All four championships and championship appearances have come since 2010 (seven appearances in 13 title series — there were no playoffs in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
This is the third straight finals appearance for Delaware, losing to RGV last year and falling to the Lakeland Magic in a one-game playoff in 2021.
“Delaware has a great group of guys and I’m sure they’re incredibly hungry,” Stockbridge said. “It’s ok, I’m not upset playing the underdog this go around.”
