Joseph Blair facts for kids
.jpg)
Blair with the Washington Wizards in 2022
|
|
| Rio Grande Valley Vipers | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | June 12, 1974 Akron, Ohio, U.S. |
| High school | C.E. King (Houston, Texas) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 10.75 in (2.10 m) |
| Listed weight | 265 lb (120 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Arizona (1992–1996) |
| NBA Draft | 1996 / Round: 2 / Pick: 35th overall |
| Selected by the Seattle SuperSonics | |
| Pro career | 1996–2009 |
| Coaching career | 2015–present |
| League | NBA G League |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1996 | Pau-Orthez |
| 1997–1998 | Harlem Globetrotters |
| 1998 | Long Island Surf |
| 1998–1999 | Fila Biella |
| 1999–2000 | Scavolini Pesaro |
| 2000–2001 | PAOK |
| 2001 | Harlem Globetrotters |
| 2001–2002 | Scavolini Pesaro |
| 2002–2004 | Ülkerspor |
| 2004–2007 | Armani Jeans Milano |
| 2007–2008 | Spartak Primorje |
| 2008–2009 | Spartak Saint Petersburg |
| As coach: | |
| 2013–2015 | Arizona (graduate assistant) |
| 2015–2018 | Rio Grande Valley Vipers (assistant) |
| 2018–2019 | Rio Grande Valley Vipers |
| 2019–2020 | Philadelphia 76ers (assistant) |
| 2020–2021 | Minnesota Timberwolves (assistant) |
| 2021–2024 | Washington Wizards (assistant) |
| 2024–present | Rio Grande Valley Vipers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As player:
As coach:
|
|
Joseph Blair (born June 12, 1974) is an American basketball coach and former player. He is currently the head coach for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the NBA G League. Joseph was known for his exciting playing style. He was especially famous during his time with the Harlem Globetrotters. He played as a power forward or center.
Contents
High School Basketball Days
Joseph Blair went to C.E. King High School in Houston, Texas. He played basketball there and showed great talent from a young age.
College Career Highlights
Blair played college basketball for four years. He was part of the Arizona Wildcats team. This team played in the Pacific-10 Conference in NCAA Division I.
During his college career, he scored about 10.4 points and grabbed 6.5 rebounds per game. He helped the Arizona Wildcats win two championships in their conference in 1993 and 1994. Joseph was also a starter when his team reached the NCAA Final Four in 1994.
He holds the Arizona program's record for the best shooting percentage from the field (61.3%). He also ranks eighth in the school's history for blocked shots, with 101 blocks.
Professional Playing Career
Joseph Blair was picked 35th in the 1996 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. However, he did not sign with them. He later played a preseason game with the Chicago Bulls in 2007. This was the closest he got to playing in the NBA.
After leaving Seattle, he moved to Europe. He played for Pau-Orthez in France. He then returned to the U.S. to play for the Harlem Globetrotters and the Long Island Surf.
In 1998, Blair went back to Europe. He spent a lot of his career in Italy's LBA league. He played for teams like Biella, Scavolini Pesaro, and Armani Jeans Milano. He was chosen for the league's All-Star Game in 2000, 2005, and 2006. In the 1999–2000 season, he led the league in rebounds.
He also played for PAOK in Greece for a season. While playing for Pesaro in the EuroLeague, Europe's top club competition, he was named to the 2001–02 All-EuroLeague Second Team.
Blair played for Ülkerspor in Turkey for two years. He was named the EuroLeague Regular Season MVP in the 2002–03 season. He finished his playing career in Russia. He played for Spartak Primorje and Spartak Saint Petersburg. He led the Russian league in rebounding in the 2007–08 season.
Coaching Journey
After his playing career, Blair returned to the Arizona Wildcats college team. From 2013 to 2015, he worked as an assistant coach and graduate manager. He helped many young players improve their skills.
In 2015, Blair became an assistant coach for the NBA D-League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers. He was promoted to head coach of the Vipers in 2018. In 2019, he joined the Philadelphia 76ers as an assistant coach. He then moved to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2020.
He joined the Washington Wizards as an assistant coach for the 2021–22 season. On January 17, 2022, Blair won his first game as a head coach for the Wizards. He led them to a 117–98 victory against the Philadelphia 76ers.
As of August 26, 2024, Blair is the head coach of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers once again.
About Joseph's Life
Joseph Blair was inspired by the youth camps run by the Harlem Globetrotters. He started his own charity called the Blair Charity Group. This group helps young people in the Tucson area. They offer free basketball camps and clinics. These camps teach leadership and social skills. The charity aims to provide education and social skills to children, especially those who might not have many opportunities.
Joseph has three children. Two of them were born in Italy. He lived in Italy for a long time and speaks fluent Italian. Since 2009, Blair has lived in Tucson, Arizona. He went back to the University of Arizona and finished his degree in 2014.
See also
In Spanish: Joseph Blair para niños
