Chauncey Billups inducted into Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame

Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Sunday in Springfield, Mass.

During his nearly 15-minute speech, Billups traced his career from high school in Denver to the final seasons of a 17-year career that saw him overcome early struggles to become a five-time All-Star, NBA champion, and now a Hall of Famer.

Presenting Billups, were former Detroit teammate Ben Wallace, and WNBA legend Tina Thompson, a Blazers scout. Former Detroit Pistons coach Larry Brown was initially scheduled to be on stage with Billups, but did not attend the ceremony.

Billups said his journey began with words of inspiration from his grandmother.

He recalled her saying she hoped to see the “Billups” name become great, and that became one of his goals.

“She always told me that she wished someone would come along in our family that would change how our name was viewed and respected,” Billups recalled. “And thanks to the game of basketball, I was able to make the name well known around the world. And I’m very thankful and grateful for that.”

Accomplishing that goal took some work.

Billups, a Colorado high school legend, recounted the rough start to his NBA career after starring at Colorado. He struggled in Boston, which selected him No. 3 overall during the 1997 NBA draft, and traded him months later to Toronto.

Billups did little with the Raptors. Denver took him, and then his hometown team traded him to Orlando. He sat out his lone season with the Magic with a shoulder injury.

Billups next landed in Minnesota, where he finally found his footing in the NBA under coach Flip Saunders, who died in 2015.

“I really wish coach Flip Saunders was alive to see me on this stage,” Billups said. “Flip really believed in me. He believed that I could prove that I could be that kid that was drafted number three overall, and he actually gave me that opportunity, which is what I needed at the time. And obviously, I did a pretty good job.”

Minnesota point guard Terrell Brandon, out of Grant High School and the University of Oregon, and forward Sam Mitchell mentored Billups.

“There were two guys that I give a lot of credit for my breakthrough and for my success,” Billups said. “One was Terrell Brandon. Terrell taught me how to be a true point guard. And the other was Sam Mitchell … Sam Mitchell just taught me how to be a pro. And those two lessons changed my life forever. TB and Sam. I love ya’ll, man.”

Billups’ career truly took off when he signed a free-agent contract with the Detroit Pistons in 2002.

“The NBA franchise that loves me like family finally found me,” he said. “Detroit.”

In his second season with the Pistons, Billups helped lead them to the 2004 NBA championship in a series win over the Los Angeles Lakers, led by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.

Billups was named Finals MVP after averaging 21 points, 5.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game, and shooting 50.1% from the field and 47.1% on threes.

Billups, whose No. 1 jersey is retired in Detroit, on Sunday credited Joe Dumars, a franchise executive at the time, for bringing him to the Pistons.

“Thank you for seeing something in me that most people didn’t at the time,” Billups said.

He then went on to thank Detroit teammates, he called his brothers. Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed Wallace, and Wallace.

“We affectionately called ourselves the “Best Five Alive,” and nobody was going to tell us nothing different,” Billups said. “I can go on forever about what Detroit means to me, but I would just say like this: It was in Detroit where I became an NBA champion, and it was in Detroit where I became Mr. Big Shot. It was in Detroit where I finally became an All-Star. It was in Detroit where I became known as a winner, which is all I ever wanted. And it’s also, it was in Detroit where the No. 1 jersey is hanging in the rafters.”

Billups went on to thank others he played for or with at Denver, New York, and the LA Clippers.

He also thanked his parents, siblings, wife, and three daughters, whom he said made many sacrifices with him missing key events during his career.

Billups closed by thanking Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, a close friend who encouraged him to get into coaching. That led to Billups becoming the head coach with the Blazers in 2021.

Billups thanked Blazers chair Jody Allen for the opportunity.

“I want to thank Jody Allen for taking a chance on me and giving me a chance to lead the Portland Trail Blazers organization,” Billups said. “My coaching journey has started off a little bit like my playing journey. It’s been a little rough. But I feel the same way as a coach as I did as a player. I will win. Maybe not immediately. But definitely.”

Near the end of his speech, Billups made a particular point of thanking Brown, with whom he had won a championship.

“Nobody demanded more out of me than you,” he said. “Nobody made me better than you. Nobody is still helping me more than you. I got any questions. I call you. LB, I love you, and I appreciate you. Thank you so much, man.”