Referee Curtis Blair’s Journey to the NBA Finals
In San Antonio, referee Curtis Blair anxiously awaited news over the weekend regarding his potential selection to officiate in the upcoming NBA Finals. For three consecutive days, he checked his emails repeatedly, hoping for the long-anticipated call from the league.
“Every couple of minutes, I was refreshing my inbox,”
Blair recounted. The suspense peaked on Sunday while he was returning from visiting his family in Virginia. Upon arriving at his home and noticing a missed call, Blair was informed that the NBA’s executive vice president of referee operations, Albert Sanders Jr., was on the line. That moment marked a turning point in Blair’s journey, as he discovered he would be officiating in this year’s Finals — a prestigious first for the veteran referee who has dedicated 18 years to this path.
NBA Finals Overview
The NBA is set to kick off the Finals on Wednesday, where the San Antonio Spurs will face the New York Knicks, and Blair is notably the only first-time referee selected out of a roster of twelve officials chosen for the series.
“It was incredibly emotional for me,”
he shared, reflecting on being on the brink for countless years before this opportunity.
Referee Roster and Recognition
The complete roster of referees was publicly shared on Tuesday, recognizing seasoned officials alongside Blair, including Scott Foster, who will be working his 19th Finals game — the most among active referees — and others like Tony Brothers, Marc Davis, and James Capers, among others, who have numerous Finals experience.
Special Distinctions for Selected Referees
Byron Spruell, the NBA President of League Operations, commended the referees for their dedication and excellence, emphasizing the honor that comes with officiating in the Finals. For referees selected for this pivotal role, there is a special distinction: they receive white warmup jackets, identifiable markers of their new status. Blair previously had two of these jackets from 2021 and 2022 when he served as an alternate; however, he quipped about their temporary nature compared to the authentic one he’ll earn this time around.
Blair’s Background and Career
Originally drafted by the Houston Rockets as a second-round pick in 1992, Blair never graced an NBA court as a player, opting instead to build an impressive career as a referee with over 1,000 games under his belt since beginning his officiating in 2008. This upcoming Finals appearance is not just a start but a significant chapter in his long-fought journey as a referee.
