Chauncey Billups’ Pacific Northwest future is secure at the helm of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Amidst several surprising head coaching dismissals, the Portland Trail Blazers opted to reverse trends in the Western Conference.
The Blazers announced the agreement of a multi-year extension with top man Chauncey Billups on Sunday. Billups, a 2024 inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, is set to wrap up his fourth season in the Pacific Northwest.
“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,” Blazers general manager Joe Cronin said in a statement. “I am beyond excited to continue this partnership with Chauncey and take this team to the next level.”
While Portland (35-46) will miss the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, Billups made significant progress in his fourth year at the helm. The 2004 NBA Finals MVP has overseen the development of several prominent Pacific projects, such as Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, Jerami Grant, Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Anfernee Simons.
Will Portland Win A Championship Under Billups?
Despite a slow start, Portland has posted a 22-18 record in the second half of this season. That’s good for ninth in the NBA in that span and allowed the Blazers to linger at the cusp of the Western postseason discussion. The Blazers ranked third in defensive rating in their last 40 and have earned wins over playoff-bound squads like Milwaukee, Indiana, and Denver.
“We are building this team the right way with a defensive-minded, hard-nosed, competitive culture,” Billups said in the Blazers’ 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.”
Billups and the Blazers wrap their 2024-25 campaign on Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers (12:30 p.m. PT, Rip City Television Network).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags