Blazers Hire NBA Champ Chauncey Billups | A Record 10 Black NBA Coaches

Chauncey Billups aka Mr. Big Shot is getting his first shot — as an NBA head coach.

The current Los Angeles Clippers assistant has been hired by the Portland Trailblazers following an interview process that came down to Big Shot and the very overrated and outdated Mike D’Antoni.

Blazers superstar Damian Lillard gave Billups a glowing recommendation and even sat in during the interview process.

Billups, a five-time All-Star during his playing career is working out the contract details and will become the new “Leader of Men” in “RIP City.”

Trail Blazers are hiring Chauncey Billups as their new head coach, per @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/i56pV4wziC

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 26, 2021

An agreement was reached on Friday night and a long-term deal is being put in place.

Billups will assume duties with the Blazers once the season for the Clippers ends. They currently trail the Suns (2-1) in the Western Conference Finals, but are coming off a big Game 3 win to inject some life into them.

Billups was hired by Tyronn Lue in November 2020, after serving six years as an NBA studio analyst on ESPN and NBA Countdown.

The Blazers were looking to replace Terry Stotts whose teams made it to the postseason in eight of his nine seasons, but only one conference finals.

The 44-year old Billups played 17 seasons in the NBA from 1997-2014, after being drafted third overall by the Boston Celtics out of Colorado.

He was traded several times early in his career and regarded as something of a disappointment, but later hit his stride with the Detroit Pistons, including leading them to an NBA title in 2004 over a Lakers team trying to four-peat.

Ben Wallace wins the No. 1 pick, Devin Booker wears a Rip Hamilton mask and Chauncey Billups gets a head coaching job.

The influence of the 2004 Pistons lives on. https://t.co/l9MdvzUCBv

— Chris Vannini