Joseph Blair was named head coach of the RGV Vipers on Monday, returning to the organization that he led to a G League championship, and to a community he became highly popular in and a big part of.
The Vipers, the NBA G League Affiliate of the Houston Rockets, won their third of four championships under Blair during the 2018-19 season. He originally joined the Vipers in 2015 where he served as an assistant coach for three seasons before being promoted to head coach in 2018.
“I’m extremely excited to come back to the Valley and represent such a prestigious organization and community.” Blair said. “The time I spent in the Valley made a profound impression on my heart and my career.”
Blair replaces Kevin Burleson, who spent two seasons as the Vipers head coach and took them to the G League finals once. Burleson took an assistant coaching job with Bernie Bickerstaff and the Detroit Pistons in early July.
Blair is an intense and towering figure who has earned the respect of players, coaches, officials and other colleagues. Rarely a coach to scream at officials (though you may hear him muttering out a few Italian phrases that few people around him understand), Blair most recently served as an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards since 2021.
Blair stepped in as head coach of the Wizards on Jan. 17, 2022, in lieu of the absence of Wizards Head Coach Wes Unseld and led the Wizards to a 117-98 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. The victory was his first as an NBA head coach.
The “GQ of the G League,” Blair is also known for his high fashion, winning ways and stoic demeanor. Blair joined the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2020 as an assistant coach. Prior to that, he spent the 2019-20 season as an assistant coach for the 76ers. Now his goal is to bring a fifth ring back – one for the thumb, a saying made wildly popular by Pittsburgh Steelers’ “Mean” Joe Greene.
He spent two seasons (2013-15) as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, the University of Arizona.
In 2009 Blair finished his career as a player after having played in the Russian Basketball Super League with Spartak Saint Petersburg during the 2008-09 season. His career in Russia began with Spartak Primorje in 2007-08, with whom he led the league in rebounding.
For three years (2004-07) Blair played for the LBA Italian Professional Basketball team, Olimpia Milano. Before then, he played with the Turkish Basketball Super League and the Euroleague with Ülkerspor from 2002-04. During his tenure with the team, he was named the 2002-03 Euro League Regular Season MVP.
He made three appearances in the Italian LBA League All-Star game in 2006, 2005 and 2000.
In 2001-02 Blair returned to the Italian club Scavolini Pesaro after having spent the 1999-00 season with the team where he led the league in rebounds. In 2001-02 Blair was selected to the All-Euro League Second Team.
Blair returned to the Harlem Globetrotters in 2001 after having played with the team during the 1997-98 season. In 1998 he also spent time with Long Island Surf before making his return to Europe with Fila Biella.
Blair played four seasons of collegiate basketball with the Arizona Wildcats from 1992-1996. He was a member of Arizona’s two regular season Pac-10 championships in 1993 and 1994. Blair was also part of the squad that advanced to the 1994 NCAA Final Four.
