Chauncey Billups has been rumored as a potential head coaching candidate for the Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics openings, and one of his former teammates seems to be lobbying for him.
Rip Hamilton, Billups’ backcourt partner with the Detroit Pistons from 2002-08, was asked by TMZ Sports if his former teammate and good friend wants the Trail Blazers job, specifically.
“Yeah,” Hamilton said. “Chauncey wants to coach right now. Hopefully, he gets that opportunity.”
Billups, currently an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers, cannot interview with any teams until the Clippers are no longer in the playoffs, but a report in The Athletic suggests the former NBA Finals MVP is “likely” to land in Portland, where Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard supposedly has Billups on his short list of coaches he prefers.
Billups, who retired with the Pistons following the 2013-14 season, joined the Clippers as an assistant this year as a member of new head coach Tyronn Lue’s staff.
While Billups does not have an extensive coaching rèsumè, Hamilton insists that Billups is the man for the job — no matter the team.
“Chauncey Billups is one of the best leaders that I’ve ever been around,” Hamilton said. “I think he’ll be great for whoever gets him.”
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