The Portland Trail Blazers officially unveiled their new head coach Chauncey Billups on Tuesday. However, the PR team stifled a question about his past.
Billups had prevailed over other finalists Becky Hammon and Mike D’Antoni in Portland, but his engagement was criticized after allegations against him in 1997 surfaced again. Billups was then charged with rape in a civil lawsuit. He was not arrested and instead settled out of court.
Blazers GM Neil Olshey said Tuesday that the team had conducted an independent investigation into these allegations before Billups was signed. However, he did not want to go into the details of this investigation. “We took these allegations very seriously and dealt with them with the thoroughness that was appropriate,” said Olshey.
Billups himself began his part of the press conference by saying, “Before I talk about my role with the team, I want to talk about this 1997 incident. Not a day goes by without thinking about every single decision making one can have a major impact on someone’s life. I learned at a very young age that every decision has consequences, “said Billups.
“And that meant I had some very, very healthy but heavy conversations with my wife, who was my girlfriend at the time, and my daughters about what really happened back then and what they read about me on the news This experience shaped my life in so many different ways. […] It influenced every decision I made and shaped me in some incredible ways. “
Chauncey Billups: Blazers stifle demand
Later in the press conference, the 44-year-old was asked to further explain how the incident had shaped him, but a moderator for the Blazers intervened before Billups could respond. “Thank you for the question, but it has already been asked and answered.”
Billups’ first assignment with his new team is expected to be addressing tension between the team and superstar Damian Lillard. He was involved in the search for a new coach, but said last week that he did not know about the allegations against Billups.
In the past few days, a report has been circulating that the point guard could possibly force a trade, but Olshey was unconcerned. “Dames satisfaction always depends on winning and being able to succeed at the highest level,” said Olshey. “Chauncey is inheriting that now, but above all I am asked to put together the right team for him.”
Billups, who played in the NBA for 18 years and is currently the assistant coach of Tyronn Lue at the Clippers, was optimistic about his first job as head coach. “Today is a great day for me and my family. This is my dream job. This is one of the best days of my life,” said Billups.
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