He was a big time shot maker in his playing days as a point guard, but now he looks to grow a middle of the pack Western Conference team into a power in the National Basketball Association.
Chauncey Billups knows what it takes to win an NBA Championship.
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He pushed a gritty Detroit Pistons roster to the NBA Finals in 2004, where it took down Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and the Los Angeles Lakers. The five-time NBA All-Star and 2004 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player is in his fourth season as head coach of the Portland Trailblazers. He got the job on June 27, 2021, and has increased Portland’s win total in each of the last three years.
Portland had 35 wins this season, which is 14 more than it had in the 2023-24 campaign.
He played 20 seasons in the league with seven different teams — including two stints with Detroit and Denver — but the Trailblazers believe Billups is the coach that can propel its program to the playoffs at some point. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Trailblazers agreed to Billups having a multi-year extension. The 40-year-old is molding a talented roster that includes Scoot Henderson, Deandre Ayton, Jerami Grant, Shaedon Sharpe, and Anfernee Simons in his image.
Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups has agreed to a multiyear contract extension, sources tell ESPN. Blazers officials negotiated a new deal with Billups’ representation, Andy Miller of Klutch Sports, as the coach finished the final guaranteed year on his contract. pic.twitter.com/fyO36RRlvr
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 13, 2025
Billups has had a .550 winning percentage since Jan. 19 – with Blazers ranking in top-five in defense during that span, per ESPN Research – while developing emerging talent in Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, Donovan Clingan and Toumani Camara. https://t.co/sCLjGYGwU8
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 13, 2025
Billups coached the ‘Blazers to a .550 winning percentage since Jan. 19 and had the team in the top-5 defense during that span.
He was an underrated champion as a player, and now Billups is building a team in Portland that’s growing to be good.
Stephen M. Smith is a writer for Ball Exclusives. You can follow him him X via @CoachingMSmith.
