The Hall of Fame player and the 2004 Final MVP as a member of the Detroit Pistons will continue to get his feet wet with his first NBA head coaching job in Portland.
The Portland Trail Blazers have reportedly reached a multi-year contract extension agreement with coach Chauncey Billups, according to ESPN. Billups was a lame duck in the final guaranteed year of his contract, but the Trail Blazers clearly look at him as their coach for the future, as they have locked him up for several more years.
In his fourth season as head coach of the Blazers, Billups has guided them to the most wins of his tenure, posting a 35-46 record as they enter the final day of the 82-game regular season. Although the Blazers will not be a part of the playoffs or the Play-In tournament, the noticeable improvement from the players this season has been a step in the right direction as they continue to build around a young nucleus.
Since the All-Star break in February, Portland has had the fourth-best defense in the league, a promising development that Billups will hope to carry over to next season. They have been led by a trio of Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija, are all averaging 15+ points this season. Scoot Henderson, who was third overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, has shown flashes of improvement in his efficiency in his second season, despite seeing a dip in production and playing time. However, he has still been an impactful piece for Portland coming off the bench.
In the four years since Billups has been in charge, he has compiled a 116-211 record. On the outside looking in, that is not the exact type of record that typically results in a contract extension, but the Blazers are being patient with this rebuild, allowing the Hall of Fame player to grow into his first head coaching gig.
Embed from Getty ImagesThere has also been real improvement with this team from last year, resulting in a shift in Billups’ job security in Portland. Had this season been another poor display, it was expected that Billups would have gotten the axe and been relieved of his duties. Instead, the young guys have taken strides, and there is a chance that the Blazers will contend for a postseason spot next season.
In guiding the third-youngest roster this season by playing time, Billups led the development of several players, including Avdija, Sharpe and Toumani Camara. The Trail Blazers have been building around a mix of veterans such as Simons, Jerami Grant, Deandre Ayton and Avdija along with young talent in Sharpe, Camara, Henderson and Donovan Clingan.
“We are building this team the right way with a defensive-minded, hard-nosed, competitive culture,” Billups said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing to give Rip City fans a product on the court that they can be proud of and cheer for every night.”
The Billups extension comes after the Blazers announced earlier this week that general manager Joe Cronin would also receive a contract extension. Heading into the offseason, with both Cronin and Billups signed to long-term deals, Portland can now shift their focus to the draft, free agency and any trades that they may consider.
“Chauncey Billups is a great leader, motivator and communicator that has worked tirelessly to establish an identity for this team that has taken shape over his time in Portland,” Cronin said in a statement. “I am beyond excited to continue this partnership with Chauncey and take this team to the next level.”
