"Maynor — is this the dagger?"
As VCU guard Eric Maynor raised up at the free throw line to hit his famous game-winning jump shot in the Rams' 79-77 victory over Duke in the first round of the 2007 NCAA tournament, CBS commentator Kevin Harlan uttered his now-famous call to preempt one of the biggest shots in black and gold history.
That's the moment that sticks out in the minds of VCU fans as representative of Maynor's historic Rams playing career. Now an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Maynor is representing VCU in the NBA Finals as OKC clashes with the Indiana Pacers.
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No VCU alumnus has ever won an NBA title as a coach — Richmond native Gerald Henderson, whose No. 22 jersey is retired in the Siegel Center, won three as a player (1981 and 1984 with the Boston Celtics and 1990 with the Detroit Pistons).
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VCU #3 Eric Maynor and head coach Anthony Grant watch as Maynor's jersey is retired Saturday, February 28, 2009. ALEXA WELCH EDLUND
Maynor, 37, isn't the only member of the Thunder's staff with VCU roots — fellow OKC assistant Dave Bliss, also 37 and in his 11th season with OKC, was a Rams graduate assistant under Shaka Smart.
Bliss played his college ball at Georgia, and was a GA on VCU's 2011 Final Four staff. Thunder GM Sam Presti met Bliss on a visit to VCU to scout former Rams star and NBA forward Larry Sanders.
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If the Thunder prevail and lift the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, Maynor and Bliss will become the first former Rams to capture professional basketball's greatest prize as coaches.
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VCU #4 Terrance Saintil, VCU #3 Eric Maynor and VCU #1 Larry Sanders relive games from this basketball season on the big screen after they defeated Ga. State Saturday, February 28, 2009. ALEXA WELCH EDLUND
Maynor was a player on the Thunder's 2012 team that reached the Finals. That season, OKC fell to the Miami Heat, led by the "Big Three" of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, in five games.
Maynor is in his fifth season on the Thunder's coaching staff. Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman wrote in April that OKC's staff under head coach Mark Daigneault has a rare continuity.
“There’s no ego in the room,” Daigneault said in Mussatto's report. “That’s the first thing I appreciate about our staff. No one’s territorial, no one’s on the wrong page. Everybody’s just trying to find the best solution. There’s spirited debate at different times, and that gets you to good solutions and it gets you all faces of an argument.
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Eric Maynor led Ram Nation at The Basketball Tournament in its win over Primetime Players with 28 points. NBA.COM
“But that stuff can get messy sometimes if there’s not great trust and communication. Fortunately we have that with our coaches. It’s exciting to go through this with them. We’ve put in a lot of work together, I think we’ve really walked with our players, I think we’ve built a lot of trust with our players, and so we’re going through this together not only as a coaching staff but as a team.”
Maynor played four seasons for the Rams (2005-2009), starting 104 and appearing in 130 games. He is VCU's all-time leading scorer with 1,953 points. Maynor also leads the program in assists (674) and made three throws (503).
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Eric Maynor is VCU’s all-time leader in points, with 1.953, and assists (674). Matt Slocum
The Raeford, North Carolina native was twice named Colonial Athletic Association player of the year in 2008 and 2009, and earned first team all-CAA honors thrice. Maynor was drafted 20th overall by the Utah Jazz in 2009, and played five years in the NBA with the Jazz, Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers before finishing his professional career overseas.
Maynor's coaching career began in 2019 as an assistant with the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder's G League affiliate. His No. 3 jersey is retired in the Siegel Center rafters.
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VCU guard Max Shulga, forward Jack Clark, and guard Zeb Jackson speak during a press conference at Ball Arena in Denver, Co., Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
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VCU head coach Ryan Odom speaks during a press conference at Ball Arena in Denver, Co., Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
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VCU guard Michael Belle (8) shoots the ball during practice at Ball Arena in Denver, Co., Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
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VCU head coach Ryan Odom looks on during practice at Ball Arena in Denver, Co., Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
032025-rtd-met-practice
VCU head coach Ryan Odom speaks during a press conference at Ball Arena in Denver, Co., Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
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VCU forward Jack Clark speaks during a press conference at Ball Arena in Denver, Co., Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
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VCU basketball players practice on the court at Ball Arena in Denver, Co., Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
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VCU forward Christian Fermin (21) shoots the ball during practice at Ball Arena in Denver, Co., Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
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VCU guard Max Shulga speaks during a press conference at Ball Arena in Denver, Co., Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
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VCU’s Max Shulga takes part in practice Wednesday in Denver preparing for Thursday’s NCAA tournament first-round game against BYU. The Rams are seeking their first NCAA tourney victory since beating Oregon State in the 2016 event.
Photos: VCU men's basketball gears up for NCAA Tournament matchup vs. BYU
The Rams and Cougars square off Thursday at 4:05 p.m.
032025-rtd-met-practice
VCU guard Max Shulga, forward Jack Clark, and guard Zeb Jackson speak during a press conference at Ball Arena in Denver, Co., Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
032025-rtd-met-practice
VCU head coach Ryan Odom speaks during a press conference at Ball Arena in Denver, Co., Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
032025-rtd-met-practice
VCU guard Michael Belle (8) shoots the ball during practice at Ball Arena in Denver, Co., Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
032025-rtd-met-practice
VCU head coach Ryan Odom looks on during practice at Ball Arena in Denver, Co., Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
032025-rtd-met-practice
VCU head coach Ryan Odom speaks during a press conference at Ball Arena in Denver, Co., Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
032025-rtd-met-practice
VCU forward Jack Clark speaks during a press conference at Ball Arena in Denver, Co., Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
032025-rtd-met-practice
VCU basketball players practice on the court at Ball Arena in Denver, Co., Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
032025-rtd-met-practice
VCU forward Christian Fermin (21) shoots the ball during practice at Ball Arena in Denver, Co., Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
032025-rtd-met-practice
VCU guard Max Shulga speaks during a press conference at Ball Arena in Denver, Co., Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
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VCU’s Max Shulga takes part in practice Wednesday in Denver preparing for Thursday’s NCAA tournament first-round game against BYU. The Rams are seeking their first NCAA tourney victory since beating Oregon State in the 2016 event.
Zach Joachim (804) 649-6555
zjoachim@timesdispatch.com
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