Curtis Blair officiates NBA Finals for the first time
3 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 2, 2026, 4:53 PM
Last updated Jun 2, 2026
Curtis Blair has been selected as one of the 12 referees for the NBA Finals, marking the first time he will officiate in the championship series. The league announced the selections for the Finals, which begin Wednesday, featuring the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks. Blair, who has officiated over 1,000 NBA games since 2008, expressed his emotions upon receiving the call from NBA referee operations head Albert Sanders Jr. He is the only first-time selection among this year's referees, alongside veterans like Scott Foster and Tony Brothers. The referees will receive special jackets for their work in the Finals, a distinction Blair eagerly awaits.
- •Curtis Blair officiates his first NBA Finals starting Wednesday.
- •The Finals features the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks.
- •Blair is the only first-time Finals referee this year.
- •He has officiated over 1,000 NBA games since 2008.
- •NBA referees in the Finals receive special warm-up jackets.
- 5:44 PMESPN — Ref Blair to work NBA Finals, a first in his caree...
- 4:00 PMYahoo Sports — Curtis Blair, for the 1st time, is among the 12 referees set to work the NBA Finals
"Curtis Blair spent all day Friday checking his email. The list of referees that were selected to work the NBA Finals was about to be revealed by the league, and the waiting was brutal. “Every two minutes, I'd check,” Blair said.
"Curtis Blair spent all day Friday checking his email. And Saturday. And Sunday. The list of referees that were selected to work the NBA Finals was about to be revealed by the league, and the waiting was brutal.
Sources
External links- ESPNJun 2, 2026, 5:44 PMRef Blair to work NBA Finals, a first in his caree...
Curtis Blair spent all day Friday checking his email. And Saturday. And Sunday. The list of referees that were selected to work the NBA Finals was about to be revealed by the league, and the waiting was brutal.
- Yahoo SportsJun 2, 2026, 4:00 PMCurtis Blair, for the 1st time, is among the 12 referees set to work the NBA Finals
Curtis Blair spent all day Friday checking his email. The list of referees that were selected to work the NBA Finals was about to be revealed by the league, and the waiting was brutal. “Every two minutes, I'd check,” Blair said.
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