Chauncey Billups facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Chauncey Billups

Billups coaching the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021
Portland Trail Blazers
Head coach
Personal information
Born	(1976-09-25) September 25, 1976 (age 49) Denver, Colorado, U.S.
High school	George Washington (Denver, Colorado)
Listed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight	210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
College	Colorado (1995–1997)
NBA Draft	1997 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall
Selected by the Boston Celtics
Pro career	1997–2014
Coaching career	2020–present
League	NBA
Career history
As player:
1997–1998	Boston Celtics
1998–1999	Toronto Raptors
1999–2000	Denver Nuggets
2000–2002	Minnesota Timberwolves
2002–2008	Detroit Pistons
2008–2011	Denver Nuggets
2011	New York Knicks
2011–2013	Los Angeles Clippers
2013–2014	Detroit Pistons
As coach:
2020–2021	Los Angeles Clippers (assistant)
2021–present	Portland Trail Blazers
Career highlights and awards
NBA champion (2004) NBA Finals MVP (2004) 5× NBA All-Star (2006–2010) All-NBA Second Team (2006) 2× All-NBA Third Team (2007, 2009) 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2005, 2006) No. 1 retired by Detroit Pistons Consensus second-team All-American (1997) First-team All-Big 12 (1997) No. 4 retired by Colorado Buffaloes McDonald's All-American (1995) Second-team Parade All-American (1995) Fourth-team Parade All-American (1994) 3× Mr. Colorado Basketball (1993–1995)
Career NBA statistics
Points	15,802 (15.2 ppg)
Rebounds	2,992 (2.9 rpg)
Assists	5,636 (5.4 apg)
Medals Men's basketball Representing the  United States FIBA Americas Championship Gold 2007 Las Vegas Team Competition FIBA World Championship Gold 2010 Turkey Team competition

Chauncey Ray Billups (born September 25, 1976) is an American professional basketball coach and former player. He is currently the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). After playing college basketball for the Colorado Buffaloes, he was picked third in the 1997 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics.

Billups played most of his 17-year career with the Detroit Pistons. There, he won the NBA Finals MVP award in 2004. He led the Pistons to victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals. Fans nicknamed him "Mr. Big Shot" because he often made important shots at the end of games for Detroit. He was a five-time NBA All-Star and was chosen for the All-NBA Team three times. He also made the NBA All-Defensive Team twice. Billups also played for the Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, and Los Angeles Clippers. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024.

After retiring as a player in 2014, Billups worked as a TV analyst. The Pistons honored him by retiring his No. 1 jersey in 2016. He began his coaching career as an assistant for the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2020–21 season. Billups became the head coach of the Trail Blazers in 2021.

Chauncey Billups: A Basketball Star

Early Life and High School Basketball

Chauncey Billups was born in Denver, Colorado. He went to George Washington High School and graduated in 1995. During his high school years, he was a top player. He was chosen for the All-State first team four times. He also won the Colorado Mr. Basketball award three times. Billups was named Colorado Player of the Year as a sophomore and a junior. He even played on the varsity team as a freshman. He was selected for the 1995 McDonald's All-American Team.

College Basketball Journey

Billups chose to attend the University of Colorado Boulder for college. He played for the Buffaloes for two seasons. During this time, he averaged 18.5 points, 5.1 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game. In the 1996–97 season, he received many honors. He was named to the All-Big 12 Conference First Team. He also earned a spot on the Basketball Times All-American First Team.

That same season, Colorado finished second in the Big 12 conference. Their overall record was 22 wins and 10 losses. Billups then led the Buffaloes to their first NCAA tournament in 28 years. They upset the Indiana Hoosiers but later lost to the North Carolina Tar Heels. Billups averaged 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game in the tournament.

College Achievements

• Consensus second-team All-American (1997)
• All-Big 12 First Team (1997)
• AllBuffs.com All-Time Colorado Buffaloes Men's Basketball Team
• No. 4 retired by University of Colorado

Starting His NBA Adventure

Early Trades and Learning

The Boston Celtics drafted Billups third overall in the 1997 NBA draft. He played his first game, scoring 15 points against the Michael Jordan-led Bulls. However, he did not stay long with the Celtics. Fifty-one games later, Billups was traded to the Toronto Raptors in February 1998. He then moved to his hometown team, the Denver Nuggets, in January 1999. During his time in Denver, Billups visited a local hospital to support a young person affected by a school tragedy.

After a short period, Billups was traded to the Orlando Magic. He did not play any games for them due to a shoulder injury. Some people at the time thought he might not succeed in the NBA.

Finding His Stride in Minnesota

In 2000, the Minnesota Timberwolves signed Billups to a three-year contract. He joined as a backup point guard. Experienced teammates like Terrell Brandon and Kevin Garnett helped him grow. They taught him about shooting, scouting, and making smart decisions on the court.

Billups had a breakthrough season in 2001–02. He became the starting point guard after Brandon's injury. The Timberwolves won 50 games that season. Billups averaged 22 points per game in the playoffs.

Becoming an NBA Champion with Detroit

"Mr. Big Shot" Arrives

Billups with the Detroit Pistons in 2005

In July 2002, Billups signed a 6-year contract with the Detroit Pistons. He became their new starting point guard. He quickly earned respect for his strong defense and ability to make crucial shots. He was given the nickname "Mr. Big-Shot" for his game-winning plays. One time, he made a three-pointer as time expired to beat the Golden State Warriors. Another time, he hit a triple with 0.5 seconds left in overtime to win against the Atlanta Hawks.

In the 2003 playoffs, the Pistons faced the Orlando Magic. They were down 3-1 in the series. Billups scored 40 points in Game 6 and 37 points in Game 7. His amazing performance helped the Pistons win the series.

Winning the NBA Championship

In the 2004 season, Billups helped the Pistons improve their record. They finished with 54 wins and 28 losses. In the playoffs, he made a half-court three-pointer at the buzzer in Game 5 against the New Jersey Nets. This sent the game into overtime. The Pistons eventually won that tough series.

Billups then led Detroit to win the 2004 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers were heavily favored to win. Billups averaged 21 points and 5.2 assists per game in the Finals. He also shot very well, earning him the NBA Finals MVP Award. He shared his award with his teammates, saying everyone deserved it.

All-Star Seasons and Team Success

Billups in 2008

The next season, Billups was named to the 2005 NBA Second All-Defensive Team. The Pistons reached the 2005 NBA Finals again but lost to the San Antonio Spurs. In 2006, Billups was chosen for the 2006 NBA All-Star Game. He played alongside three other Pistons teammates. This was a special moment for him.

Billups was also selected for the 2007 NBA All-Star Game and the 2008 NBA All-Star Game. In 2007, he helped Team Detroit win the Shooting Stars Competition. He signed a new contract with the Pistons in 2007. In the 2008 playoffs, he helped the Pistons reach the Eastern Conference Finals.

Back to His Hometown Team

On November 3, 2008, Billups was traded back to his hometown team, the Denver Nuggets. He chose the number 7 jersey to honor Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway. Billups played his first game back with the Nuggets on November 7, 2008. He scored 15 points in a home win. He was the only Nugget selected for the 2009 NBA All-Star Game.

With Billups and Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets achieved many team records. They matched a franchise record with 54 wins and 28 losses. They also won their division and earned the second seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Billups led them to the NBA Conference Finals for the first time since 1985. They lost to the Lakers, but Billups made it to his seventh straight conference finals. He was also selected to his second All-NBA Third Team.

Billups with the Denver Nuggets in 2011

For the 2009–10 season, Billups wore his old number 1 jersey. On November 27, 2009, he scored 32 points in a win against the New York Knicks. His teammate Carmelo Anthony scored 50 points in the same game. This was a rare achievement in NBA history. Billups set a career high with 39 points against the Los Angeles Lakers in February 2010. He was also chosen for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game.

Later NBA Teams

Short Stints with New York and Los Angeles

In February 2011, Billups was traded to the New York Knicks. This was part of a big trade involving Carmelo Anthony. Billups said it was hard to leave Denver. The Knicks made the playoffs for the first time since 2004. However, Billups suffered a knee injury in the first game of the playoffs. This injury kept him out for the rest of the series.

In December 2011, Billups joined the Los Angeles Clippers. He played alongside superstar point guard Chris Paul. Billups was happy to be with the Clippers, believing they were ready to succeed. He played as a shooting guard for the team. However, his season ended early in February 2012 due to an Achilles tendon injury. He re-signed with the Clippers for another year. He played only 22 games that season due to various injuries. In 2013, Billups received the first-ever Twyman–Stokes Teammate of the Year Award.

Final Season in Detroit and Retirement

On July 16, 2013, Billups signed a two-year contract to return to the Detroit Pistons. More knee problems caused him to miss most of the 2013–14 season. He played in his fewest games since 1999–2000. He also had career lows in points and minutes. The Pistons did not make the postseason that year.

On June 30, 2014, the Pistons decided not to extend his contract. On September 9, 2014, Billups announced his retirement from the NBA after 17 years. He said his health was the main reason, as he had struggled with injuries in his last three seasons. On February 10, 2016, the Pistons retired Billups's No. 1 jersey to honor his contributions.

Beyond Playing: Coaching and BIG3

In 2017, a new 3-on-3 professional basketball league called BIG3 was created. Billups was announced as a player for the Killer 3's team.

Coaching the Portland Trail Blazers

Billups as head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, 2021

On November 16, 2020, Billups began his coaching career. He was hired as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers under head coach Tyronn Lue.

On June 27, 2021, Billups was hired as the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. He continues to lead the team today. Billups and the Trail Blazers agreed to a multiyear contract extension in April 2025.

Playing for Team USA

Billups (left) and Lamar Odom holding the 2010 FIBA World Championship trophy

In March 2006, Billups was chosen for the USA Men's Senior National Team program. This program aimed to bring Team USA back to the top of the basketball world. In August 2007, Billups was part of Team USA that competed in the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship. This tournament helped them qualify for the Beijing Olympics.

Billups and his teammates, including Kobe Bryant, went undefeated in the tournament. They earned a spot in the Olympics. Billups later decided not to compete for an Olympic spot due to family reasons. Team USA went on to win their first gold medal since the 2000 Olympics. Billups felt he played a big part in their success. He also won a gold medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

Life Off the Court

Chauncey Billups is married and has three daughters. His younger brother, Rodney Billups, also played basketball. Rodney played for the Denver Pioneers and later became a coach.

Billups wore the number 4 in high school and college. He sometimes wore it professionally because he admired former Pistons guard Joe Dumars. Dumars was also the Pistons' President of Basketball Operations when Billups played there. Billups's favorite NFL team is the Denver Broncos.

Billups was featured on the cover of the video game NBA Ballers: Phenom. In the game, he acts as the player's mentor. In June 2008, Billups attended a rally for Barack Obama at Joe Louis Arena. The Coors Events Center has a large mural of Billups. This mural is part of his "Chauncey's Kid Roundup" program.

Career Highlights and Statistics

Player Statistics

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1997–98	Boston	51	44	25.4	.390	.339	.817	2.2	4.3	1.5	.0	11.1
	Toronto	29	26	31.7	.349	.316	.919	2.7	3.3	1.0	.1	11.3
1998–99	Denver	45	41	33.1	.386	.362	.913	2.1	3.8	1.3	.3	13.9
1999–00	Denver	13	5	23.5	.337	.171	.841	2.6	3.0	.8	.2	8.6
2000–01	Minnesota	77	33	23.2	.422	.376	.842	2.1	3.4	.7	.1	9.3
2001–02	Minnesota	82	54	28.7	.423	.394	.885	2.8	5.5	.8	.2	12.5
2002–03	Detroit	74	74	31.4	.421	.392	.878	3.7	3.9	.9	.2	16.2
2003–04	Detroit	78	78	35.4	.394	.388	.878	3.5	5.7	1.1	.1	16.9
2004–05	Detroit	80	80	35.8	.442	.426	.898	3.4	5.8	1.0	.1	16.5
2005–06	Detroit	81	81	36.1	.418	.433	.894	3.1	8.6	.9	.1	18.5
2006–07	Detroit	70	70	36.2	.427	.345	.883	3.4	7.2	1.2	.2	17.0
2007–08	Detroit	78	78	32.3	.448	.401	.918	2.7	6.8	1.3	.2	17.0
2008–09	Detroit	2	2	35.0	.333	.286	.918	5.0	7.5	1.5	.5	12.5
	Denver	77	77	35.3	.420	.410	.900	3.0	6.4	1.2	.2	17.9
2009–10	Denver	73	73	34.1	.418	.386	.910	3.1	5.6	1.1	.1	19.5
2010–11	Denver	51	51	32.3	.438	.441	.923	2.5	5.3	1.0	.2	16.5
	New York	21	21	31.6	.403	.328	.902	3.1	5.5	.9	.1	17.5
2011–12	L.A. Clippers	20	20	30.4	.364	.384	.895	2.5	4.0	.5	.2	15.0
2012–13	L.A. Clippers	22	22	19.0	.402	.367	.938	1.5	2.2	.5	.0	8.4
2013–14	Detroit	19	7	16.3	.304	.292	.833	1.5	2.2	.4	.1	3.8
Career		1043	937	31.6	.415	.387	.894	2.9	5.4	1.0	.2	15.2
All-Star		5	0	19.0	.455	.320	.750	2.2	5.0	.4	.0	10.2

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2001	Minnesota	3	0	8.7	.167	.000	1.000	1.7	.7	.0	.0	1.0
2002	Minnesota	3	3	44.7	.451	.400	.700	5.0	5.7	1.0	.3	22.0
2003	Detroit	14	14	34.6	.374	.310	.933	3.4	4.7	.6	.1	18.0
2004	Detroit	23	23	38.3	.385	.346	.890	3.0	5.9	1.3	.1	16.4
2005	Detroit	25	25	39.4	.428	.349	.893	4.3	6.5	1.0	.2	18.7
2006	Detroit	18	18	39.2	.406	.340	.905	3.4	6.5	1.2	.1	17.9
2007	Detroit	16	16	40.6	.435	.389	.832	3.3	5.7	1.2	.1	18.6
2008	Detroit	15	15	32.0	.401	.375	.832	2.9	5.5	.8	.1	16.1
2009	Denver	16	16	38.7	.457	.468	.906	3.8	6.8	1.3	.3	20.6
2010	Denver	6	6	34.5	.446	.355	.881	2.3	6.3	1.0	.5	20.3
2011	New York	1	1	35.0	.273	.333	1.000	2.0	4.0	.0	.0	10.0
2013	L.A. Clippers	6	6	19.2	.306	.353	.818	2.0	1.0	.2	.2	6.2
Career		146	143	36.4	.411	.366	.880	3.4	5.7	1.0	.2	17.3

Coaching Record

See also

In Spanish: Chauncey Billups para niños

• List of NBA career 3-point scoring leaders
• List of NBA career free throw percentage leaders
• List of NBA career playoff 3-point scoring leaders
• List of NBA career playoff free throw scoring leaders