PORTLAND, Ore. (April 6, 2024) – Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has been named to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
“As a five-time All-Star and 2004 MVP, Chauncey is well deserving of this wonderful recognition,” said Jody Allen, chair of the Portland Trail Blazers. “We are all proud of Chauncey’s many accomplishments as a player and his impressive 17-year career on the court.”
Billups, 47, played 17 seasons and averaged 15.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 1,043 games for seven teams; Boston, Toronto, Denver, Minnesota, Detroit, New York and the LA Clippers. Billups ranks seventh in all- time NBA history for his career free-throw percentage (.894 percent) and was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 2004 when he led Detroit to an NBA Championship.
“I am humbled to be part of this year’s class for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame,” said Billups. “As an NBA Champion and as an NBA All-Star, I strived to play the game the right way. To have my place beside the all-time great players and individuals in the sport of basketball is truly a great honor.”
A five-time All-Star, Billups was named All-NBA Second Team in 2006 and All-NBA Third Team in 2007 and 2009. He also received NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors in 2005 and 2006. In 2008, Billups was awarded the NBA's J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award for outstanding service and dedication to his community. He also earned the NBA Sportsmanship Award in 2009, and the inaugural Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award in 2013 — an award that recognizes the player who best exemplifies selfless play and commitment to his team.
The Detroit Pistons retired Billups’ No. 1 jersey. During the 2004 championships as Billups led the Pistons to a title, he amassed 21.0 points, 5.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds in five games.
In addition to his NBA accomplishments, Billups was part of the Team USA Gold Medal FIBA World Championship team in 2010.
A native of Denver, Colorado, Billups’ vast basketball career started at the high school level, where he was named a four-time All-State first-team pick at George Washington High School, earning Billups the Colorado Mr. Basketball award three times and Colorado Player of the Year twice before being named a McDonald’s All- American in 1995. After high school, he attended the University of Colorado where he averaged 18.5 points, 5.1 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game over his two seasons with the Buffaloes. In the 1996–97 season, he was named to the All-Big 12 Conference First Team, the Basketball Times All-American First Team, and Consensus 2nd team All-American.