Ex-Pitt star Blair ready to start over
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
When DeJuan Blair joined the Texas Legends, Zendon Hamilton expected to get that strong, physical big man who bullied his way through NBA players after bullying his way through college players.
What Hamilton didn’t necessarily expect was that a veteran of the highest level of basketball would take this next step in his career with such humility. Yes, Pitt basketball’s most recent AllAmerican has spent seven seasons in league, but he’s a rookie in the D-League.
“DeJuan is a joy to be around, just for the short time he’s been here,” said Hamilton, a Legends assistant coach who works with the team’s post players. “Very bright kid, IQ is very high about the game, still asks a lot of questions.”
The NBA Development League affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks acquired Blair Jan. 17, making a future Schenley High School, City League and Pittsburgh basketball legend a literal one for the time being. It’s another opportunity for Blair, 27, on a road that led to China and back. His days at Pitt and early years as an important contributor to the San Antonio Spurs may feel like a distant memory now, but this could be the start of his last real chance to get back on track.
Through four games with the Legends entering the week, Blair averaged 11 points and 6.3 rebounds in 17.3 minutes per game. Not exactly the production that made him an early second-round draft pick of the Spurs after his sophomore year at Pitt, but Hamilton sees Blair as the rare case of an experienced D-League addition who puts stats on the back-burner.
“Very rare,” said Hamilton, a former NBA journeyman himself now on head coach Bob MacKinnon’s staff in Frisco. “It’s usually ‘I’m coming in to get my minutes. I’m coming in to get my points. I’m coming in to get my shots. How can I get back to the league?’ ”
Hamilton knows that’s Blair’s ultimate goal, as well, but has been impressed with his desire to learn more. After all, this is the same DeJuan Blair who started 166 games over four seasons with arguably the NBA’s most consistent franchise. The same one who posted two double-doubles in the 2014 playoffs with the Mavericks, an organization he has rejoined in a different way.
“It’s pretty cool,” said Blair, who turns 28 in April. “I already know the system. There’s a couple new faces, but it’s always good to come back to a team you know. You know what they expect of you and everything like that. Just trying to do what I have to do to get to where I want to go.”
Blair acknowledged that playing in China, where he averaged 24.1 points and 13.6 rebounds, was a welcome experience, but a culture shock. He and his team parted ways in November, so for a couple months, he was looking for work for a second time in 2016.
After his one-season stint in Dallas in 2013-14, he was traded to the Washington Wizards. But his two years there were far from magical, appearing in just 29 games each season with zero starts and averaging single-digit minutes.
He still keeps tabs on Pitt basketball, but doesn’t wistfully reflect on his college days much. In a sense, it might as well be a lifetime ago for him.
“That Pitt team was totally different,” he said. “We had the Big East championship; now the Big East ain’t the same. It’s just a whole total 180 from when I was in school. … The Big East was always that rugged, tough conference, and now Pitt’s in the ACC.”
If he does want someone to wax nostalgic about the Big East with, he can look down the Legends roster. In addition to Blair, the team also signed former Connecticut star Ben Gordon, 33, a few days later.
As far as his own game goes, Hamilton can see Blair has changed. He shoots more jump shots now, and can make them. He puts in time to improve his footwork. His passing skills stand out even more. Blair himself insists he’s still the same player.
“A little bit more experienced, a couple more miles on me,” he said with a laugh, “but everything’s still there.”
“Great locker room guy,” Hamilton called him. “And that’s a skill. That’s valuable. Those things keep you around.”
Provided Texas keeps him around despite the fickle nature of the D-League, Blair plans to connect with his old Pitt coach Jamie Dixon, now at nearby TCU in Fort Worth. He keeps in touch with Schenley teammates D.J. Kennedy and DeAndre Kane, the former playing in the same Chinese league Blair left and the latter a standout in Russia.
Back in the states, Blair tried to explain what his circumstances feel like these days. He’s trying to rekindle his career, trying to prove he might not be as far removed from his prime as it seems.
“It’s like a memory,” he said. “Something that’s been forgotten about. Not saying they forgot about me, but I wasn’t in the spotlight, so they couldn’t see what I can do now. I’m still young. I still have a lot more to go. My knees are holding up great. My body feels great. I’m just taking it one game at a time.”