Rio Grande Valley Vipers
| Rio Grande Valley Vipers | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| League | NBA Development League |
| Founded | 2007 |
| History |
Rio Grande Valley Vipers 2007–present |
| Arena | State Farm Arena |
| Location | Hidalgo, Texas |
| Team colors | Red, gray, black, white |
| Team manager | Gianluca Pascucci |
| Head coach | Matt Brase |
| Ownership | RGV Basketball |
| Affiliation(s) | Houston Rockets |
| Championships | 2 (2009, 2012) |
| Conference titles | 3 (2009, 2010, 2012) |
| Division titles | 2 (2009, 2012) |
| Website | Official site |
The Rio Grande Valley Vipers are a basketball team in the NBA Development League. They play their home games at the State Farm Arena, in Hidalgo, Texas. With two D-League titles in 2010 and 2013, the Vipers are the most victorious team in the league along with the Asheville Altitude and Santa Cruz Warriors.
The Vipers entered a single-partnership affiliation agreement with the Houston Rockets during the 2009–10 season. Previously, they were also affiliated with the Cleveland Cavaliers for 2007–08 and the New Orleans Hornets from 2007–09.
After the finish of the 2006-2007 season, the D-League announced an expansion to Hidalgo, Texas, with the team name "Rio Grande Valley Vipers". In their debut season, 2007-2008, they finished with a 21–29 record, failing to qualify for the playoffs. In 2008–09, they finished with the same record, failing to advance to the playoffs for the second year in a row.
In 2009, the Vipers and the Houston Rockets entered into a single affiliation partnership in which the Rockets controlled the Vipers' basketball operations while the franchise remains under local ownership by Alonzo Cantu. The result paid immediate dividends in the 2009–10 season, as the Vipers enjoyed their most successful season. Led by league MVP Mike Harris, and coach of the year Chris Finch, the Vipers went 34–16, tops in the Western Conference, and earned the franchise's first playoff berth. In the playoffs, the Vipers beat both Reno and Austin in 3 games, and swept Tulsa in the Finals to earn the franchise's first championship.
In 2013, the Vipers won their second title over the Santa Cruz Warriors. Andrew Goudelock won the NBA Development League Most Valuable Player Award and got called up by the Los Angeles Lakers.
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