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In June 2002, Billups signed with the [[Detroit Pistons]] as a [[free agent]] to be the team's new starting [[point guard]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/billupssign_020717.html|title=Pistons Sign Free Agent Guard Chauncey Billups|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc|accessdate=2009-05-20|date=July 17, 2002}}</ref> When he signed with the Pistons, he was forced to take the number 1 because number 4 was retired in honor of [[Joe Dumars]]. Billups quickly earned respect from Pistons fans and colleagues for his tenacious defense and clutch shooting. He helped Detroit win the [[2004 NBA Finals]] over the [[Los Angeles Lakers]], four games to one. He averaged 21 points and 5.2 assists per game during the series to earn the [[NBA Finals MVP Award]].
In June 2002, Billups signed with the [[Detroit Pistons]] as a [[free agent]] to be the team's new starting [[point guard]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/billupssign_020717.html|title=Pistons Sign Free Agent Guard Chauncey Billups|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc|accessdate=2009-05-20|date=July 17, 2002}}</ref> When he signed with the Pistons, he was forced to take the number 1 because number 4 was retired in honor of [[Joe Dumars]]. Billups quickly earned respect from Pistons fans and colleagues for his tenacious defense and clutch shooting. He helped Detroit win the [[2004 NBA Finals]] over the [[Los Angeles Lakers]], four games to one. He averaged 21 points and 5.2 assists per game during the series to earn the [[NBA Finals MVP Award]].


The following season, Billups was named to the 2005 NBA Second All-Defensive Team, along with teammate [[Tayshaun Prince]], while teammate and co-captain of the Pistons [[Ben Wallace]] took home the Defensive Player of the Year Award. The Pistons reached the NBA finals but lost to the [[San Antonio Spurs]].
The following season, Billups was named to the Worst on the Bench Team, along with teammate [[Tayshaun Prince]], while teammate and co-captain of the Pistons [[Ben Wallace]] took home the 2nd worst Player of the Year Award, behind billups who was first. The Pistons went 0-82.In 2006, Billups sat on te bench. Although he was bad the Pistons might have been a bit better because they went to a franchise best 2–80 record, they failed to make it to the first round for the 80th year in a row, even though the nba hasn't been around that long. He also led the league in missed shots and benches.


⚫
On July 11, 2007, Billups signed a $1 dollar, four-year contract with the Pistons (which includes a team option for a fifth year at $50 cents).<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2932809 ESPN - Pistons keep Billups with four-year, $46M deal - NBA<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He had been an [[unrestricted free agent]] for several days after he opted out of the previous contract, which he had signed in 2002.
In 2006, Billups was co-captain of the team. Although he captained the Pistons to a franchise best 64–18 record, they failed to make it to the NBA Finals for the first time in three years. He also led the league in assist-to-turnover ratio.

⚫
On July 11, 2007, Billups signed a $46 million, four-year contract with the Pistons (which includes a team option for a fifth year at $14 million).<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2932809 ESPN - Pistons keep Billups with four-year, $46M deal - NBA<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He had been an [[unrestricted free agent]] for several days after he opted out of the previous contract, which he had signed in 2002.


During a game three playoff game against the [[Orlando Magic]], Billups pulled a hamstring after going for a ball. He missed game four, but the Pistons defeated the Magic, 90–89, to take a 3–1 series lead when Tayshaun Prince hit the game-winning shot with 8.9 seconds left.
During a game three playoff game against the [[Orlando Magic]], Billups pulled a hamstring after going for a ball. He missed game four, but the Pistons defeated the Magic, 90–89, to take a 3–1 series lead when Tayshaun Prince hit the game-winning shot with 8.9 seconds left.

Revision as of 01:14, 30 November 2009

Chauncey Billups
No. 1 – Denver Nuggets
PositionPoint guard
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1976-09-25) September 25, 1976 (age 47)
Denver, Colorado
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight202 lb (92 kg)
Career information
High schoolGeorge Washington (Denver)
CollegeColorado
NBA draft1997: 3rd overall
Selected by the Boston Celtics
Playing career1997–present
Career highlights and awards
2004 NBA Champion
2004 NBA Finals MVP
2004–05 NBA All-Defense Second Team
2005–06 NBA All-Defense Second Team
2005–06 All-NBA Second Team
2008–09 All-NBA Third Team
4x NBA All-Star
2006–07 All-NBA Third Team
2007–08 Citizenship Award
2008–09 NBA Sportsmanship Award
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at NBA.com
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at Basketball-Reference.com

Chauncey Ray Billups (born September 25, 1976, in Denver, Colorado) is an American professional basketball player. He is a point guard for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association. Billups won the NBA Finals MVP in 2004, helping the Detroit Pistons beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals,[1] and was given the nickname "Mr. Big Shot" for making late-game shots with Detroit.[2] A four-time All Star and two-time All-NBA selection, he was chosen third overall in the 1997 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics, and has also played for the Toronto Raptors and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Billups played college basketball at the University of Colorado, where he was honored in 2004 as the fifth player to have his number 4 jersey retired.

High school

Billups attended Denver's George Washington High School, where he was a four-time All-State first team pick, Colorado Mr. Basketball three times, and Colorado Player of the Year as a sophomore and as a junior. He was selected to the 1995 McDonald's All-American Team but did not play due to a shoulder injury, an injury that he would have a problem with off and on throughout his early career.

College

Billups attended but did not graduate from the University of Colorado, having been drafted during his sophomore year. At Colorado, Billups averaged 18.5 points per game over his two seasons. In the 1996–97 season he was named to the Big 12 Conference First Team and the Basketball Times All-American First Team. That same year Billups led the Buffaloes to their first NCAA tournament victory in over thirty years, 80-62 over Indiana.

NBA career

Early years

Drafted third overall in the 1997 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics, Billups was traded to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Kenny Anderson midway through his first season. Billups then played for the Denver Nuggets, who traded him to the Orlando Magic. He was on the injured list until season's end and never played a game for Orlando (he was included on the season-ending team photo, wearing jersey number 2).

Billups was signed by the Minnesota Timberwolves as a back-up to then Point guard Terrell Brandon. Billups replaced the often-injured Brandon and had a breakthrough 2001–02 season.

Detroit Pistons

In June 2002, Billups signed with the Detroit Pistons as a free agent to be the team's new starting point guard.[3] When he signed with the Pistons, he was forced to take the number 1 because number 4 was retired in honor of Joe Dumars. Billups quickly earned respect from Pistons fans and colleagues for his tenacious defense and clutch shooting. He helped Detroit win the 2004 NBA Finals over the Los Angeles Lakers, four games to one. He averaged 21 points and 5.2 assists per game during the series to earn the NBA Finals MVP Award.

The following season, Billups was named to the Worst on the Bench Team, along with teammate Tayshaun Prince, while teammate and co-captain of the Pistons Ben Wallace took home the 2nd worst Player of the Year Award, behind billups who was first. The Pistons went 0-82.In 2006, Billups sat on te bench. Although he was bad the Pistons might have been a bit better because they went to a franchise best 2–80 record, they failed to make it to the first round for the 80th year in a row, even though the nba hasn't been around that long. He also led the league in missed shots and benches.

On July 11, 2007, Billups signed a $1 dollar, four-year contract with the Pistons (which includes a team option for a fifth year at $50 cents).[4] He had been an unrestricted free agent for several days after he opted out of the previous contract, which he had signed in 2002.

During a game three playoff game against the Orlando Magic, Billups pulled a hamstring after going for a ball. He missed game four, but the Pistons defeated the Magic, 90–89, to take a 3–1 series lead when Tayshaun Prince hit the game-winning shot with 8.9 seconds left.

Through his six years with Detroit, Billups made six straight conference championship series, two NBA finals, and won an NBA Championship. He was an All-Star three times, made the all-NBA team twice and All-Defensive second team twice.

Return to Denver

On November 3, 2008, Billups was traded to the Denver Nuggets, along with Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb, for Allen Iverson.[5] Billups chose the number 7 jersey to honor Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway, since two of his other favorite numbers, 1 and 4, were already worn by J.R. Smith and Kenyon Martin, respectively.[6] He played his first game of the Nuggets' 2008–09 season on November 7, 2008. He recorded 15 points, four rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes of play in a 108–105 Nuggets' home win.[7] He finished the season averaging 17.7 ppg, and 6.4 apg.

Along with Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets accomplished a great deal of franchise milestones. Their 54-28 record matched the most wins the franchise has gotten since their induction in the NBA, their 27-14 start was also a record for wins in the first half of a season. This also marked the first time in the franchise's history the team has gotten back-to-back 50-win seasons. They led the Northwest division for much of the season, eventually winning the division and placing for #2 in the Western Conference, matching the highest the team has ever been seeded for the playoffs. In the first round, they defeated the New Orleans Hornets in 5 games, which included a record-equaling 58-point margin victory. Billups also set a Nuggets franchise record with the most 3 pointers in a playoff game with 8, and his 19 3-pointers in total is also a Nuggets record for 3s made in a playoff series. Billups averaged 22.6 ppg, 7.4 apg, and 3.8 3PM in that series. In his first year with the Nuggets, Billups led them back to the NBA Conference Finals for the first time since 1985. This was Billups' 7th straight conference finals. He joined Magic Johnson, Michael Cooper, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Kurt Rambis as the only players to accomplish this feat since the Boston Celtics of the 1950s and 1960s led by Bill Russell.

For the 2009-10 season, Billups reverted to wearing No. 1, the same number he wore with the Detroit Pistons. Teammate J.R. Smith, who had previously worn No. 1 since being acquired by the Nuggets in 2006, changed to the No. 5 jersey[8]. On November 27, 2009, in the Nuggets' 128-125 win over the Knicks, Billups scored 32 points while teammate Carmelo Anthony scored 50. This made them the only third duo in NBA history to score at least 30 and 50 points respectively.

All-star appearances

In 2006, Billups was selected to play in the 2006 NBA All-Star Game as a reserve for the Eastern Conference, along with former teammates Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace. Pistons head coach Flip Saunders coached the Eastern Conference squad and put all four Pistons in the game when the east was falling behind; they were able to get the Eastern All-Star team back in the game.

During the 2006 NBA All-Star Weekend, Billups participated in the Three-point Shootout contest. He was eliminated in the first round of the contest after scoring 12 points.

In the 2007 NBA All-Star Game, Billups was chosen as a reserve, along with teammate Richard Hamilton, for the Eastern Conference, despite an injury that kept Billups out of five games early on in the season. Billups also took part in the Shooting Stars Competition alongside former Piston and Detroit Shock head coach Bill Laimbeer and Shock star Swin Cash. Team Detroit won the competition with Billups hitting the final half-court shot.

Billups was selected to play as a reserve in the 2008 NBA All-Star Game, along with teammates Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace, an injury replacement. Billups was the only Nugget to be selected to the 2009 NBA All-Star Game.

Statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1997–98 Boston 51 44 25.4 .390 .339 .817 2.2 4.3 1.5 0.0 11.1
1997–98 Toronto 29 26 31.7 .349 .316 .919 2.7 3.3 1.0 0.1 11.3
1998–99 Denver 45 41 33.1 .386 .362 .913 2.1 3.8 1.3 0.3 13.9
1999–00 Denver 13 5 23.5 .337 .171 .841 2.6 3.0 0.8 0.2 8.6
2000–01 Minnesota 77 33 23.2 .422 .376 .842 2.1 3.4 0.7 0.1 9.3
2001–02 Minnesota 82 54 28.7 .423 .394 .885 2.8 5.5 0.8 0.2 12.5
2002–03 Detroit 74 74 31.4 .421 .392 .878 3.7 3.9 0.9 0.2 16.2
2003–04 Detroit 78 78 35.4 .394 .388 .878 3.5 5.7 1.1 0.1 16.9
2004–05 Detroit 80 80 35.8 .442 .426 .898 3.4 5.8 1.0 0.1 16.5
2005–06 Detroit 81 81 36.1 .418 .433 .894 3.1 8.6 0.9 0.1 18.5
2006–07 Detroit 70 70 36.2 .427 .345 .883 3.4 7.2 1.2 0.2 17.0
2007–08 Detroit 78 78 32.3 .448 .401 .918 2.7 6.8 1.3 0.2 17.0
2008–09 Detroit 2 2 35.0 .333 .286 .918 5.0 7.5 1.5 0.5 12.5
2008–09 Denver 77 77 35.3 .420 .410 .900 3.0 6.4 1.2 0.2 17.9
Career 837 743 32.1 .416 .388 .889 2.6 5.6 1.0 0.1 15.1
All-Star 4 0 17.3 .424 .176 .750 2.8 5.0 0.2 0.0 8.5

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2000–01 Minnesota 3 0 8.7 .167 .000 1.000 1.7 .7 .0 .0 1.0
2001–02 Minnesota 3 3 44.7 .451 .400 .700 5.0 5.7 1.0 .3 22.0
2002–03 Detroit 14 14 34.6 .374 .310 .933 3.4 4.7 .6 .1 18.0
2003–04 Detroit 23 23 38.3 .385 .346 .890 3.0 5.9 1.4 .1 16.4
2004–05 Detroit 25 25 39.4 .428 .349 .893 4.3 6.5 1.0 .2 18.7
2005–06 Detroit 18 18 39.2 .406 .340 .905 3.4 6.5 1.2 .1 17.9
2006–07 Detroit 16 16 40.6 .435 .389 .832 3.3 5.7 1.2 .1 18.6
2007–08 Detroit 15 15 32.0 .401 .375 .832 2.9 5.5 .8 .1 16.1
2008–09 Denver 16 16 38.7 .457 .468 .906 3.8 6.8 1.2 .2 20.6
Career 133 130 37.3 .413 .367 .881 3.5 5.9 1.1 .1 17.7

Career highs

Category Career High Opponent/Date
Points 37 vs. Orlando 01/03/06
Field Goals Made 12 2 Times
Field Goals Attempted 24 @ Phoenix 01/18/02
Three Point Field Goals Made 8 vs. New Orleans 4/19/09
Three Point Field Goals Attempted 13 vs. Phoenix 03/28/03
Free Throws Made 18 @ Washington 11/25/06
Free Throws Attempted 19 @ Washington 11/25/06
Offensive Rebounds 5 vs. Vancouver 01/15/98
Defensive Rebounds 11 vs. Indiana 12/29/06
Total Rebounds 12 vs. Indiana 12/29/06
Assists 19 vs. Sacramento 12/14/05
Steals 7 @ Atlanta 01/23/98
Blocks 3 vs. Denver 02/15/02
Minutes Played 51 @ New York 12/27/06

International career

On March 5, 2006, Billups was selected to be a part of the 2006–2008 USA Men's Senior National Team program developed to restore Team USA back to the top of the basketball world after disappointments in the 2002 FIBA World Championship and the 2004 Summer Olympic Games.[9] After missing out in the 2006 FIBA World Championship due to personal reasons, on August 20, 2007, Billups was selected to be a part of Team USA that competed at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship, a qualifying tournament for the Beijing Olympics.[10] Coming off the bench, he along with the other new members of the team including All Star Kobe Bryant helped USA go unbeaten at the tournament held in Las Vegas and earn a spot at next Summer Olympics. On June 17, 2008, Billups announced he would not compete for a spot to be on the Olympic squad stating family reasons though he did say "they'll be fine. And when they win the gold, I'll feel like I had a big hand in regaining our dominance because of what we did last summer."[11] During the tournament, Team USA went unbeaten on their way to their first gold medal since the 2000 Olympics, defeating Spain in the final.[12]

Personal life

Billups has a wife, Piper, and three daughters, Cydney, Ciara and Cenaiya.[13] His good friend, NBA player Kevin Garnett, is the godfather to Billups's second daughter Ciara. His younger brother, Rodney, was a Point guard for the University of Denver[14] and was recently drafted in the NBA D-League.[15] He is the first cousin of running back LenDale White of the Tennessee Titans.[16]

Billups wore the #4 in college and at times during his professional career because he idolized former Pistons guard Joe Dumars, the Pistons President of Basketball Operations during his time at Detroit.[17] His favorite NFL team is the Denver Broncos.[16]

Billups is featured on the cover of the video game NBA Ballers: Phenom and is the player's mentor.

On June 16, 2008, Billups appeared at Joe Louis Arena for a Barack Obama rally.[18]

Awards and honors

  • Gold Medal with Team USA, Tournament of Americas Olympic Qualifiers
  • 2004 NBA Finals MVP
  • 2004–05 NBA All-Defense Second Team
  • 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 NBA All-Star
  • 2005–06 All-NBA Second Team
  • 2005–06 NBA All-Defense Second Team
  • 2006–07 All-NBA Third Team
  • 2008–09 NBA Sportsmanship Award
  • 2008–09 All-NBA Third Team

NBA history

  • ranks 10th in 3-pointers made (1,410, as of March 23, 2009)
  • ranks 16th in 3-point field goal attempts (3,642, as of March 23, 2009)

Notes

  1. ^ Aschburner, Steve (November 3 2008). "Back home after trade, Billups has something to prove with Nuggets". Sports Illustrated. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  2. ^ Friend, Tom (May 11, 2009). "The Disposable Superstar". Outside the Lines. ESPN.com.
  3. ^ "Pistons Sign Free Agent Guard Chauncey Billups". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. July 17, 2002. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
  4. ^ ESPN - Pistons keep Billups with four-year, $46M deal - NBA
  5. ^ http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_10887199
  6. ^ Graham, Pat (November 7 2008). "No place like home for Denver native Billups". Associated Press. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=281107007
  8. ^ http://www.nba.com/nuggets/roster Denver Nuggets official website
  9. ^ Team USA 2006–08 Announced
  10. ^ USA Men's Team Announced For FIBA Americas Championship
  11. ^ Citing family reasons, Billups pulls out of consideration for Beijing
  12. ^ US hoops back on top, beats Spain for gold medal
  13. ^ Fantasy Basketball Breaking News - Rotoworld.com
  14. ^ CSTV.com: #1 in College Sports
  15. ^ NBA Development League: NBA Development League Announces 2006 Draft Results
  16. ^ a b "Five Things You Didn't Know About Chauncey Billups". 2006. Retrieved 2007-02-21. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  17. ^ PISTONS: FSN SPOTLIGHT - Chauncey Billups
  18. ^ Billups Makes Surprise Appearance for Obama || WXYZ.com | WXYZ-TV / Detroit | Detroit News, Weather, Sports and More

External links

Preceded by NBA Finals Most Valuable Player
2004 		Succeeded by
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