Chauncey Billups
Encyclopedia
Chauncey Ray Billups is an American professional basketball
point guard
for the New York Knicks
of the National Basketball Association
(NBA). He has also played for Team USA. Billups won the NBA Finals MVP in 2004, helping the Detroit Pistons
beat the Los Angeles Lakers
in the Finals
, and was given the nickname "Mr. Big Shot" for making late-game shots with Detroit. A five-time NBA All-Star and three-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
, the Denver Nuggets
, 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 jersey (number 4) retired.
, 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.
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.
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 injured Brandon and had a breakthrough 2001–02 season.
as a free agent
to be the team's new starting point guard
. 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
.
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). 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 game three of a playoff series 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.
, along with Antonio McDyess
and Cheikh Samb, for Allen Iverson
. 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. 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. He finished the season averaging 17.7 ppg, and 6.4 apg.
With Billups and Carmelo Anthony
, the Nuggets accomplished a number of franchise milestones. Their 54–28 record matched the most wins the franchise had 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 had gotten 50 wins in back-to-back seasons. They led the Northwest division for much of the season, eventually winning the division and gaining the number two seed in the Western Conference, matching the highest the team had 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-of-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. On November 27, 2009, in the Nuggets' 128–125 win over the New York Knicks
, Billups scored 32 points while teammate Carmelo Anthony scored 50. This made them only the third duo in NBA history to score at least 30 and 50 points respectively. On February 5, 2010, Billups set a career high in points with a 39 point performance in a road win over the Los Angeles Lakers with 27 of them coming from 9 three-pointers.
deal. Billups was "collateral damage"—as more than one sportswriter put it—of Carmelo Anthony's desire to play in New York and the Nuggets' desire to trade Anthony before he became a free agent. "Oh it was hard, hardest thing I've ever had to do," Billups said. "I had to tell my girls that daddy was traded, that he was leaving to play across the country. I told them it wasn't my choice, that nothing could be done about it. I had to go. It wasn't a happy scene."
Billups suffered a knee injury while playing against the Celtics in Game 1 of the 2011 NBA Playoffs. The injury would keep Billups sidelined for the remainder of the playoffs.
Shortly after the Knicks were dismissed from the playoffs by the Boston Celtics
, Billups mentioned he would love to return to the Knicks next season. “I would love the opportunity to really try it up with these guys,” Billups said. “Not like play 30 games after a trade, like really have a season. Have an opportunity to really get a fair shake with these guys. I would love to."
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
.
Billups was chosen as the replacement by David Stern
for injured New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul
at the 2010 NBA All-Star Game
.
| align="left" | 1997–98
| align="left" | Boston
| 51 || 44 || 25.4 || .390 || .339 || .817 || 2.2 || 4.3 || 1.5 || .0 || 11.1
|-
| align="left" | 1997–98
| align="left" | Toronto
| 29 || 26 || 31.7 || .349 || .316 || .919 || 2.7 || 3.3 || 1.0 || .1 || 11.3
|-
| align="left" | 1998–99
| align="left" | Denver
| 45 || 41 || 33.1 || .386 || .362 || .913 || 2.1 || 3.8 || 1.3 || .3 || 13.9
|-
| align="left" | 1999–00
| align="left" | Denver
| 13 || 5 || 23.5 || .337 || .171 || .841 || 2.6 || 3.0 || .8 || .2 || 8.6
|-
| align="left" | 2000–01
| align="left" | Minnesota
| 77 || 33 || 23.2 || .422 || .376 || .842 || 2.1 || 3.4 || .7 || .1 || 9.3
|-
| align="left" | 2001–02
| align="left" | Minnesota
| 82 || 54 || 28.7 || .423 || .394 || .885 || 2.8 || 5.5 || .8 || .2 || 12.5
|-
| align="left" | 2002–03
| align="left" | Detroit
| 74 || 74 || 31.4 || .421 || .392 || .878 || 3.7 || 3.9 || .9 || .2 || 16.2
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="AFE6BA"| 2003–04†
| align="left" | Detroit
| 78 || 78 || 35.4 || .394 || .388 || .878 || 3.5 || 5.7 || 1.1 || .1 || 16.9
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | Detroit
| 80 || 80 || 35.8 || .442 || .426 || .898 || 3.4 || 5.8 || 1.0 || .1 || 16.5
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Detroit
| 81 || 81 || 36.1 || .418 || .433 || .894 || 3.1 || 8.6 || .9 || .1 || 18.5
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Detroit
| 70 || 70 || 36.2 || .427 || .345 || .883 || 3.4 || 7.2 || 1.2 || .2 || 17.0
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Detroit
| 78 || 78 || 32.3 || .448 || .401 || .918 || 2.7 || 6.8 || 1.3 || .2 || 17.0
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | Detroit
| 2 || 2 || 35.0 || .333 || .286 || .918 || 5.0 || 7.5 || 1.5 || .5 || 12.5
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | Denver
| 77 || 77 || 35.3 || .420 || .410 || .900 || 3.0 || 6.4 || 1.2 || .2 || 17.9
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
| align="left" | Denver
| 73 || 73 || 34.1 || .418 || .386 || .910 || 3.1 || 5.6 || 1.1 || .1 || 19.5
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | Denver
| 51 || 51 || 32.3 || .438 || .441 || .923 || 2.5 || 5.3 || 1.0 || .2 || 16.5
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | New York
| 21 || 21 || 31.6 || .403 || .328 || .902 || 3.1 || 5.5 || .9 || .1 || 17.5
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 982 || 888 || 32.3 || .417 || .389 || .894 || 2.9 || 5.6 || 1.0 || .2 || 15.5
|-
| align="left" | All-Star
| align="left" |
| 5 || 0 || 19.0 || .455 || .320 || .750 || 2.2 || 5.0 || .4 || .0 || 10.2
| align="left" | 2001
| align="left" | Minnesota
| 3 || 0 || 8.7 || .167 || .000 || 1.000 || 1.7 || .7 || .0 || .0 || 1.0
|-
| align="left" | 2002
| align="left" | Minnesota
| 3 || 3 || 44.7 || .451 || .400 || .700 || 5.0 || 5.7 || 1.0 || .3 || 22.0
|-
| align="left" | 2003
| align="left" | Detroit
| 14 || 14 || 34.6 || .374 || .310 || .933 || 3.4 || 4.7 || .6 || .1 || 18.0
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="AFE6BA"| 2004
†
| align="left" | Detroit
| 23 || 23 || 38.3 || .385 || .346 || .890 || 3.0 || 5.9 || 1.4 || .1 || 16.4
|-
| align="left" | 2005
| align="left" | Detroit
| 25 || 25 || 39.4 || .428 || .349 || .893 || 4.3 || 6.5 || 1.0 || .2 || 18.7
|-
| align="left" | 2006
| align="left" | Detroit
| 18 || 18 || 39.2 || .406 || .340 || .905 || 3.4 || 6.5 || 1.2 || .1 || 17.9
|-
| align="left" | 2007
| align="left" | Detroit
| 16 || 16 || 40.6 || .435 || .389 || .832 || 3.3 || 5.7 || 1.2 || .1 || 18.6
|-
| align="left" | 2008
| align="left" | Detroit
| 15 || 15 || 32.0 || .401 || .375 || .832 || 2.9 || 5.5 || .8 || .1 || 16.1
|-
| align="left" | 2009
| align="left" | Denver
| 16 || 16 || 38.7 || .457 || .468 || .906 || 3.8 || 6.8 || 1.2 || .2 || 20.6
|-
| align="left" | 2010
| align="left" | Denver
| 6 || 6 || 34.5 || .446 || .355 || .881 || 2.3 || 6.3 || 1.0 || .5 || 20.6
|-
| align="left" | 2011
| align="left" | New York
| 1 || 1 || 35.0 || .273 || .333 || 1.000 || 2.0 || 4.0 || .0 || .0 || 10.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 140 || 137 || 37.2 || .413 || .367 || .881 || 3.4 || 5.9 || 1.0 || .2 || 17.8
and the 2004 Summer Olympic Games. 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. 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." During the tournament, Team USA went unbeaten on their way to their first gold medal since the 2000 Olympics, defeating Spain in the final.
, is the godfather to Billups's second daughter Ciara. His younger brother, Rodney, was a Point guard for the University of Denver
and was recently drafted in the NBA D-League. He is the first cousin of running back
LenDale White
.
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. His favorite NFL
team is the Denver Broncos
.
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.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
for the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA). He has also played for Team USA. Billups won the NBA Finals MVP in 2004, helping the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
beat the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the Finals
2004 NBA Finals
The 2004 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 2003–04 National Basketball Association season. The Finals were between the Los Angeles Lakers of the Western Conference and the Detroit Pistons of the Eastern Conference; the Lakers held home court advantage...
, and was given the nickname "Mr. Big Shot" for making late-game shots with Detroit. A five-time NBA All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection, he was chosen third overall in the 1997 NBA Draft
1997 NBA Draft
The 1997 NBA Draft took place on June 25, 1997 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Although the Celtics had the second worst record in the 1996-97 season and the best odds of winning the lottery with two picks, the Spurs, usually a model of winning and consistency, lost David Robinson to an injury early...
by the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
, and has also played for the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
, the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
, and the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
. Billups played college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
at the University of Colorado
Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball
The Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team represents the University of Colorado at Boulder in the Pacific-12 Conference.The Buffaloes have competed in ten NCAA Tournaments, making it to the Final Four twice , and...
, where he was honored in 2004 as the fifth player to have his jersey (number 4) retired.
High school
Billups attended Denver's George Washington High SchoolGeorge Washington High School (Denver)
George Washington High School is located near the intersection of South Monaco Parkway and Leetsdale Drive in Denver, Colorado. The school is located in the Glendale neighborhood on the southeast side of Denver. GW is recognized as the first school in Colorado to offer International Baccalaureate...
, 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
McDonald's All-American Team
The McDonald's All-American Game refers to each of the all-star basketball games played each year for boys' and girls' high-school basketball graduates. Consisting of the top American and Canadian players, each team plays a single exhibition game after the conclusion of the high-school basketball...
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 after 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 ConferenceBig 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
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.
Early years
Drafted third overall in the 1997 NBA Draft1997 NBA Draft
The 1997 NBA Draft took place on June 25, 1997 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Although the Celtics had the second worst record in the 1996-97 season and the best odds of winning the lottery with two picks, the Spurs, usually a model of winning and consistency, lost David Robinson to an injury early...
by the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
, Billups was traded to the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
in exchange for Kenny Anderson
Kenny Anderson
Kenneth "Kenny" Anderson is a retired American basketball player. After a college career at Georgia Institute of Technology, he played point guard professionally from 1991 to 2006, mostly in the National Basketball Association....
midway through his first season. Billups then played for the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
, who traded him to the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
. 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
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
as a back-up to then Point guard Terrell Brandon
Terrell Brandon
Thomas Terrell Brandon is a retired American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association . Terrell was known throughout his 10-year career for his passing ability and stealing skills.-Early life:...
. Billups replaced the injured Brandon and had a breakthrough 2001–02 season.
Detroit Pistons
In June 2002, Billups signed with the Detroit PistonsDetroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
to be the team's new starting point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
. When he signed with the Pistons, he was forced to take the number 1 because number 4 was retired in honor of Joe Dumars
Joe Dumars
Joe Dumars III , nicknamed Joe D, is a retired American basketball player in the NBA, and currently the Detroit Pistons' President of Basketball Operations....
. Billups quickly earned respect from Pistons fans and colleagues for his tenacious defense and clutch shooting. He helped Detroit win the 2004 NBA Finals
2004 NBA Finals
The 2004 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 2003–04 National Basketball Association season. The Finals were between the Los Angeles Lakers of the Western Conference and the Detroit Pistons of the Eastern Conference; the Lakers held home court advantage...
over the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, 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
Tayshaun Prince
Tayshaun Durell Prince is an American basketball player who last played for the Detroit Pistons in the National Basketball Association. Prince is a small forward, listed at and . A graduate of Dominguez High School and the University of Kentucky, Prince was drafted in the first round by the...
, while teammate and co-captain of the Pistons Ben Wallace
Ben Wallace
Ben Camey Wallace is an American basketball center for the Detroit Pistons of the NBA. A native of Alabama, Wallace attended Cuyahoga Community College and Virginia Union University and signed with the Washington Bullets as an undrafted free agent in 1996...
took home the Defensive Player of the Year Award. The Pistons reached the NBA finals but lost to the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
.
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). 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 game three of a playoff series against the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
, 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 NuggetsDenver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
, along with Antonio McDyess
Antonio McDyess
Antonio Keithflen McDyess is an American professional basketball player. McDyess is listed at 6'9" , 245 lb. and is a power forward/center. In 2009 he signed a 3-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs....
and Cheikh Samb, for Allen Iverson
Allen Iverson
Allen Ezail Iverson is an American professional basketball point guard and shooting guard. He was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the number one pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in the 1996–97 season...
. Billups chose the number 7 jersey to honor Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
John Elway
John Elway
John Albert Elway, Jr. is a former American football quarterback and currently is the executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He played college football at Stanford and his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos...
, since two of his other favorite numbers, 1 and 4, were already worn by J.R. Smith
J.R. Smith
Earl Smith III, known as J. R. Smith , is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls in China...
and Kenyon Martin
Kenyon Martin
Kenyon Lee Martin is an American professional basketball player. Nicknamed "K-Mart", he plays for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in China. He was selected first overall in the 2000 NBA Draft, and has played in the NBA for the New Jersey Nets and Denver Nuggets...
, respectively. He played his first game of the Nuggets' 2008–09 season
2008–09 Denver Nuggets season
The 2008-09 Denver Nuggets season was the 42nd season of the franchise, 33rd in the National Basketball Association .-Key dates:*June 26: The 2008 NBA Draft took place in New York City, New York.*July 1: The free agency period started....
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. He finished the season averaging 17.7 ppg, and 6.4 apg.
With Billups and Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Kiyan Anthony , nicknamed "Melo", is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association...
, the Nuggets accomplished a number of franchise milestones. Their 54–28 record matched the most wins the franchise had 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 had gotten 50 wins in back-to-back seasons. They led the Northwest division for much of the season, eventually winning the division and gaining the number two seed in the Western Conference, matching the highest the team had 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-of-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
NBA Conference Finals
The National Basketball Association Conference Finals are the Eastern Conference and Western Conference Championship series of the National Basketball Association , a major professional basketball league in North America. The NBA was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America...
for the first time since 1985. This was Billups' 7th straight conference finals. He joined Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers...
, Michael Cooper, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
, and Kurt Rambis
Kurt Rambis
Darrell Kurt Rambis is a retired American professional basketball player and former head coach for the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves.-Biography:...
as the only players to accomplish this feat since the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
of the 1950s and 1960s led by Bill Russell
Bill Russell
William Felton "Bill" Russell is a retired American professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association...
.
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. On November 27, 2009, in the Nuggets' 128–125 win over the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, Billups scored 32 points while teammate Carmelo Anthony scored 50. This made them only the third duo in NBA history to score at least 30 and 50 points respectively. On February 5, 2010, Billups set a career high in points with a 39 point performance in a road win over the Los Angeles Lakers with 27 of them coming from 9 three-pointers.
New York Knicks
Despite publicly professing his desire to finish his career in hometown Denver and retire as a Nugget, Billups was traded to the New York Knicks on February 22, 2011 as part of the Carmelo AnthonyCarmelo Anthony
Carmelo Kiyan Anthony , nicknamed "Melo", is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association...
deal. Billups was "collateral damage"—as more than one sportswriter put it—of Carmelo Anthony's desire to play in New York and the Nuggets' desire to trade Anthony before he became a free agent. "Oh it was hard, hardest thing I've ever had to do," Billups said. "I had to tell my girls that daddy was traded, that he was leaving to play across the country. I told them it wasn't my choice, that nothing could be done about it. I had to go. It wasn't a happy scene."
Billups suffered a knee injury while playing against the Celtics in Game 1 of the 2011 NBA Playoffs. The injury would keep Billups sidelined for the remainder of the playoffs.
Shortly after the Knicks were dismissed from the playoffs by the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
, Billups mentioned he would love to return to the Knicks next season. “I would love the opportunity to really try it up with these guys,” Billups said. “Not like play 30 games after a trade, like really have a season. Have an opportunity to really get a fair shake with these guys. I would love to."
All-star appearances
In 2006, Billups was selected to play in the 2006 NBA All-Star Game2006 NBA All-Star Game
The 2006 NBA All-Star Game was played on Sunday, February 19, 2006 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, home of the Houston Rockets. The game was the 55th annual All-Star game...
as a reserve for the Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference (NBA)
The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, organized in three divisions of five teams each.The three division winners and the non-division winner with the best record are seeded 1 through 4 for the playoffs in order of their records, with all...
, along with former teammates Richard Hamilton
Richard Hamilton (basketball)
Richard "Rip" Hamilton is an American basketball player who currently plays for the Detroit Pistons. Hamilton is 6'7" tall, weighs 193 lbs , and plays shooting guard. He currently is the Pistons' team captain....
, Rasheed Wallace
Rasheed Wallace
Rasheed Abdul Wallace is a retired American professional basketball power forward and center who played from 1995 to 2010 in the National Basketball Association...
and Ben Wallace
Ben Wallace
Ben Camey Wallace is an American basketball center for the Detroit Pistons of the NBA. A native of Alabama, Wallace attended Cuyahoga Community College and Virginia Union University and signed with the Washington Bullets as an undrafted free agent in 1996...
. Pistons head coach Flip Saunders
Flip Saunders
Phillip "Flip" Saunders is an American basketball head coach of the Washington Wizards. He previously coached the Detroit Pistons and the Minnesota Timberwolves.-High school and college player:Saunders was born in Cincinnati, Ohio....
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
NBA All-Star Weekend
The National Basketball Association holds an All-Star Weekend every February, the festival has a variety of basketball-related events, exhibitions, and performances culminating in the NBA All-Star Game held on Sunday night.-The All-Star Game:...
, Billups participated in the Three-point Shootout
Three-point Shootout
The Three-Point Shootout is a National Basketball Association contest held on the Saturday before the annual All-Star Game as part of the All-Star Weekend. In this contest, participants attempt to make as many three-point field goals as possible from five positions behind the three-point arc...
contest. He was eliminated in the first round of the contest after scoring 12 points.
In the 2007 NBA All-Star Game
2007 NBA All-Star Game
The 2007 NBA All-Star Game was played on Sunday, February 18, 2007 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas's Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. It was the 56th annual All-Star Game. It was the first time the All-Star Game was played in a city without an NBA franchise and...
, Billups was chosen as a reserve, along with teammate Richard Hamilton
Richard Hamilton (basketball)
Richard "Rip" Hamilton is an American basketball player who currently plays for the Detroit Pistons. Hamilton is 6'7" tall, weighs 193 lbs , and plays shooting guard. He currently is the Pistons' team captain....
, 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
Shooting Stars Competition
The Shooting Stars Competition is a National Basketball Association All-Star Weekend contest held on the Saturday before the All-Star Game. It involves a current NBA player, a WNBA player and a retired NBA player representing their teams' city competing together in a shooting competition...
alongside former Piston and Detroit Shock
Detroit Shock
The Detroit Shock was a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They were the 2003, 2006 and 2008 WNBA champion...
head coach Bill Laimbeer
Bill Laimbeer
William "Bill" Laimbeer, Jr. is a retired National Basketball Association player for the Detroit Pistons. Playing at center, the 6'11" Laimbeer was a four-time All-Star and integral part of the Pistons teams that won two championships...
and Shock star Swin Cash
Swin Cash
Swintayla Marie Cash , better known as Swin Cash, is an American WNBA player who plays for the Seattle Storm. A prolific scorer and rebounder, as well as a capable ball handler and defender, she helped lead the University of Connecticut women's basketball team to national titles in 2000 and 2002...
. 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
2008 NBA All-Star Game
-Eastern Conference roster:The Boston Celtics, the team with the league's best record, came into New Orleans with three players. Kevin Garnett, top vote-getter in the league with 2,399,148 votes, was selected as a starter, while Paul Pierce and Ray Allen were selected as reserves by the coaches of...
, 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
2009 NBA All-Star Game
The 2009 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game played on February 15, 2009 at US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona, home of the Phoenix Suns. The game was the 58th edition of the National Basketball Association All-Star Game and was played during the 2008–09 NBA season...
.
Billups was chosen as the replacement by David Stern
David Stern
David Joel Stern is the commissioner of the National Basketball Association. He started with the Association in 1966 as an outside counsel, joined the NBA in 1978 as General Counsel, and became the league's Executive Vice President in 1980. He became Commissioner in 1984 succeeding Larry O'Brien...
for injured New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul
Chris Paul
Christopher Emmanuel Paul is an American professional basketball point guard for the New Orleans Hornets.Paul was born and raised in North Carolina. Despite only playing two varsity basketball seasons in high school, he was a McDonald's All-American and accepted a scholarship with nearby Wake...
at the 2010 NBA All-Star Game
2010 NBA All-Star Game
The 2010 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game between players selected from the National Basketball Association 's Western Conference and the Eastern Conference that was played on February 14, 2010 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, United States. This game was the 59th edition...
.
NBA Statistics
| † | NBA Championship |
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 1997–98
| align="left" | Boston
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
| 51 || 44 || 25.4 || .390 || .339 || .817 || 2.2 || 4.3 || 1.5 || .0 || 11.1
|-
| align="left" | 1997–98
| align="left" | Toronto
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
| 29 || 26 || 31.7 || .349 || .316 || .919 || 2.7 || 3.3 || 1.0 || .1 || 11.3
|-
| align="left" | 1998–99
| align="left" | Denver
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
| 45 || 41 || 33.1 || .386 || .362 || .913 || 2.1 || 3.8 || 1.3 || .3 || 13.9
|-
| align="left" | 1999–00
| align="left" | Denver
| 13 || 5 || 23.5 || .337 || .171 || .841 || 2.6 || 3.0 || .8 || .2 || 8.6
|-
| align="left" | 2000–01
| align="left" | Minnesota
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
| 77 || 33 || 23.2 || .422 || .376 || .842 || 2.1 || 3.4 || .7 || .1 || 9.3
|-
| align="left" | 2001–02
| align="left" | Minnesota
| 82 || 54 || 28.7 || .423 || .394 || .885 || 2.8 || 5.5 || .8 || .2 || 12.5
|-
| align="left" | 2002–03
| align="left" | Detroit
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
| 74 || 74 || 31.4 || .421 || .392 || .878 || 3.7 || 3.9 || .9 || .2 || 16.2
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="AFE6BA"| 2003–04†
| align="left" | Detroit
| 78 || 78 || 35.4 || .394 || .388 || .878 || 3.5 || 5.7 || 1.1 || .1 || 16.9
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | Detroit
| 80 || 80 || 35.8 || .442 || .426 || .898 || 3.4 || 5.8 || 1.0 || .1 || 16.5
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | Detroit
| 81 || 81 || 36.1 || .418 || .433 || .894 || 3.1 || 8.6 || .9 || .1 || 18.5
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | Detroit
| 70 || 70 || 36.2 || .427 || .345 || .883 || 3.4 || 7.2 || 1.2 || .2 || 17.0
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Detroit
| 78 || 78 || 32.3 || .448 || .401 || .918 || 2.7 || 6.8 || 1.3 || .2 || 17.0
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
| align="left" | Detroit
| 2 || 2 || 35.0 || .333 || .286 || .918 || 5.0 || 7.5 || 1.5 || .5 || 12.5
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
| align="left" | Denver
| 77 || 77 || 35.3 || .420 || .410 || .900 || 3.0 || 6.4 || 1.2 || .2 || 17.9
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
2009–10 NBA season
The 2009–10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, and ended on Wednesday, April 14, 2010....
| align="left" | Denver
| 73 || 73 || 34.1 || .418 || .386 || .910 || 3.1 || 5.6 || 1.1 || .1 || 19.5
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
2010–11 NBA season
The 2010–11 NBA season was the 65th season of the National Basketball Association . The 2011 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 20, 2011 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in six games, 4 games to 2, to win their first NBA title, and...
| align="left" | Denver
| 51 || 51 || 32.3 || .438 || .441 || .923 || 2.5 || 5.3 || 1.0 || .2 || 16.5
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | New York
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 21 || 21 || 31.6 || .403 || .328 || .902 || 3.1 || 5.5 || .9 || .1 || 17.5
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 982 || 888 || 32.3 || .417 || .389 || .894 || 2.9 || 5.6 || 1.0 || .2 || 15.5
|-
| align="left" | All-Star
| align="left" |
| 5 || 0 || 19.0 || .455 || .320 || .750 || 2.2 || 5.0 || .4 || .0 || 10.2
Playoffs
|-| align="left" | 2001
2001 NBA Playoffs
The 2001 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2000–01 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers winning their second consecutive championship by defeating the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers...
| align="left" | Minnesota
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
| 3 || 0 || 8.7 || .167 || .000 || 1.000 || 1.7 || .7 || .0 || .0 || 1.0
|-
| align="left" | 2002
2002 NBA Playoffs
The 2002 NBA Playoffs were the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2001–02 season. This would be the final postseason that held a best-of-5 first-round series; next year's postseason would see those series expanded to a best-of-7 format...
| align="left" | Minnesota
| 3 || 3 || 44.7 || .451 || .400 || .700 || 5.0 || 5.7 || 1.0 || .3 || 22.0
|-
| align="left" | 2003
2003 NBA Playoffs
The 2003 NBA playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2002-03 NBA season. This postseason was notable for being the first time all series were conducted in a best-of-7 format. It was also the only time in playoff history that no team was swept in a first-round series....
| align="left" | Detroit
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
| 14 || 14 || 34.6 || .374 || .310 || .933 || 3.4 || 4.7 || .6 || .1 || 18.0
|-
| align="left" bgcolor="AFE6BA"| 2004
2004 NBA Playoffs
The 2004 NBA Playoffs were the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2003–04 season. Consisting of 16 teams in two conferences, the playoffs involved about two months of play. The playoffs were conducted in seven-game series, with the team with the better record holding home court...
†
| align="left" | Detroit
| 23 || 23 || 38.3 || .385 || .346 || .890 || 3.0 || 5.9 || 1.4 || .1 || 16.4
|-
| align="left" | 2005
2005 NBA Playoffs
The 2005 NBA Playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2004–05 season.The San Antonio Spurs, the number two ranked team in the Western Conference, won the 2005 NBA Playoffs by defeating the defending champions, the Detroit Pistons, 4-3 in the NBA Finals...
| align="left" | Detroit
| 25 || 25 || 39.4 || .428 || .349 || .893 || 4.3 || 6.5 || 1.0 || .2 || 18.7
|-
| align="left" | 2006
2006 NBA Playoffs
The 2006 NBA Playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2005–06 season. The Miami Heat won the first championship in the history of the franchise by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 4-2 in the 2006 NBA Finals...
| align="left" | Detroit
| 18 || 18 || 39.2 || .406 || .340 || .905 || 3.4 || 6.5 || 1.2 || .1 || 17.9
|-
| align="left" | 2007
2007 NBA Playoffs
The 2007 NBA Playoffs was the postseason to the National Basketball Association's 2006–2007 season.There were four rounds of postseason action, all of them in a best-of-seven format, with teams seeded on a bracket. The team with the better record wasn't necessarily the basis of seeding teams in...
| align="left" | Detroit
| 16 || 16 || 40.6 || .435 || .389 || .832 || 3.3 || 5.7 || 1.2 || .1 || 18.6
|-
| align="left" | 2008
2008 NBA Playoffs
The 2008 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2007–08 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4–2....
| align="left" | Detroit
| 15 || 15 || 32.0 || .401 || .375 || .832 || 2.9 || 5.5 || .8 || .1 || 16.1
|-
| align="left" | 2009
2009 NBA Playoffs
The 2009 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2008–09 season. The playoffs started on April 18, 2009 with ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
| align="left" | Denver
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
| 16 || 16 || 38.7 || .457 || .468 || .906 || 3.8 || 6.8 || 1.2 || .2 || 20.6
|-
| align="left" | 2010
2010 NBA Playoffs
The 2010 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2009–10 season. The playoffs started on April 17, 2010 with ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
| align="left" | Denver
| 6 || 6 || 34.5 || .446 || .355 || .881 || 2.3 || 6.3 || 1.0 || .5 || 20.6
|-
| align="left" | 2011
2011 NBA Playoffs
The 2011 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2010–11 season. Eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualified for the playoffs, all seeded 1 to 8 in a tournament bracket, with all rounds in a best-of-seven format. The 2011 NBA Playoffs began on...
| align="left" | New York
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
| 1 || 1 || 35.0 || .273 || .333 || 1.000 || 2.0 || 4.0 || .0 || .0 || 10.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 140 || 137 || 37.2 || .413 || .367 || .881 || 3.4 || 5.9 || 1.0 || .2 || 17.8
National team
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 Championship2002 FIBA World Championship
The 2002 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball tournament held by the International Basketball Federation in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA from August 29 to September 8, 2002.-Venues:-Squads:...
and the 2004 Summer Olympic Games. After missing out in the 2006 FIBA World Championship
2006 FIBA World Championship
The 2006 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Japan from August 19 to September 3, 2006. It was co-organised by the International Basketball Federation , Japan Basketball Association and the 2006 Organizing Committee...
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. Coming off the bench, he along with the other new members of the team including All Star Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school...
helped USA go unbeaten at the tournament held in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
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." During the tournament, Team USA went unbeaten on their way to their first gold medal since the 2000 Olympics, defeating Spain in the final.
Personal life
Billups has a wife, Piper, and three daughters, Cydney, Ciara and Cenaiya. His good friend, NBA player Kevin GarnettKevin Garnett
Kevin Maurice Garnett is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . After a high school basketball career at Farragut Career Academy which included winning a national player of the year award, he...
, is the godfather to Billups's second daughter Ciara. His younger brother, Rodney, was a Point guard for the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
and was recently drafted in the NBA D-League. He is the first cousin of running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
LenDale White
LenDale White
LenDale Anthony White is an American football running back. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern California....
.
Billups wore the #4 in college and at times during his professional career because he idolized former Pistons guard Joe Dumars
Joe Dumars
Joe Dumars III , nicknamed Joe D, is a retired American basketball player in the NBA, and currently the Detroit Pistons' President of Basketball Operations....
, the Pistons President of Basketball Operations during his time at Detroit. His favorite NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
team is the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Billups is featured on the cover of the video game NBA Ballers: Phenom
NBA Ballers: Phenom
For the sequel see NBA Ballers: Chosen One.NBA Ballers: Phenom is a video game for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. It is the sequel to NBA Ballers, which featured Stephon Marbury and Chauncey Billups. In this game, celebrities such as Jin, Ludacris, Trikz, Hot Sauce, and Chingy can be played. The main...
and is the player's mentor.
On June 16, 2008, Billups appeared at Joe Louis Arena
Joe Louis Arena
Joe Louis Arena, nicknamed The Joe and JLA is a hockey arena located at 600 Civic Center Drive in Detroit, Michigan. It is the home of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. Completed in 1979 at a cost of $57 million, Joe Louis Arena is named after boxer and former heavyweight...
for a Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
rally.
See also
- List of National Basketball Association career assists leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career 3-point scoring leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career playoff assists leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career playoff 3-point scoring leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career playoff free throw scoring leaders