Sports
For Chauncey Billups, Minnesota was a turning point in his Hall of Fame career
Former Minnesota Timberwolves forward Sam Mitchell is thrilled that Chauncey Billups will enter the Basketball Hall of Fame on Sunday. Mitchell also used strong words for individuals who “nearly ruined this man’s career” before he rose to turn out to be a star and NBA champion.
“When they let you down, they blame you,” Mitchell told Andscape. “In my opinion, every coach until Chauncey got to Minnesota let him down. And then they turned around and as an alternative of saying, “We let him down,” they said, “He can’t play.” Explain to me how someone who’s the third pick in the draft cannot play but is now on the point of enter the Hall of Fame? Explain this to me, because I do know the reality. I was there. I do know what Chauncey told me. I saw what happened in Boston. I saw what happened in Orlando.
“So explain to me how a loser who cannot play the position now finally ends up in the Hall of Fame? … I might love to listen to what they must say because I’m drained of writing about all these great (expletive) coaches who let people down. And then these guys turned out to be good. And nobody says a word. By saying that, they almost ruined this man’s career.
While the Timberwolves can be the springboard, Billups’ Hall of Fame biography is highlighted by his time with the Detroit Pistons. The five-time NBA All-Star was the point guard who, with the assistance of fellow Hall of Famer Ben Wallace, led the team to 5 straight conference finals, two NBA Finals appearances and one championship. The 2004 NBA Finals MVP also earned the nickname “Mr. Big Shot” in Detroit for making clutch shots and have become an all-around defender. The Pistons also retired his No. 1 jersey in 2016.
But before landing in Detroit, Billups went from being the third overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft to being viewed as a failure in just three seasons. The former University of Colorado star was traded during his first three seasons by the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors and his hometown Denver Nuggets. He never played for the Orlando Magic as he was traded through the 1999-2000 season as a consequence of a shoulder injury. Billups averaged 11.3 points, 3.8 assists and a pair of.3 rebounds over his first 4 non-playoff seasons, a far cry from what was projected for him when he entered the NBA.
“You come in as a third-round pick with your aspirations,” said Billups, now the top coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. If I play like I’m going to be an All-Star. I’m going to take it to the subsequent level. And then you definitely fall completely, identical to I did. I actually have to prove that I belong in this league…
“I needed one other likelihood to prove that I actually belong in this league. And once I’ve done that, I’ll return to my repeatedly scheduled program. I’m going to point out them. And so after that short time in Orlando, I was a free agent and ended up signing with Minnesota.
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In 2000, Billups was an unrestricted free agent with the grieving Timberwolves and several other other teams. The Timberwolves needed a defenseman in 2000 as a consequence of the death of Malik Sealy.
Sealy averaged 10.1 points and three.2 rebounds in the NBA from 1992 to 2000, including his final two seasons in Minnesota. Former star of St. John’s University died tragically in the early morning hours of May 20, 2000, when his SUV was struck by a drunken wrong-way pickup driver.
Mitchell’s plans for an early golf outing immediately modified when Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders called him with the news of Sealy’s death.
“I will never forget this as long as I live,” Mitchell said. “I’ll always remember what a time it was. When Flip called me that morning, I never forgot what I was alleged to do. “I will never forget visiting (Sealy’s) house because I was the one who went to his house and told the police his wife.”
The Timberwolves honored Sealy’s life during their first home game of the 2000–01 season and retired his No. 2 jersey, however the team needed to recruit one other defender. Saunders and Timberwolves vice chairman of basketball operations Kevin McHale strongly considered signing Billups. But Mitchell said Saunders was concerned by rumors he had heard that the free agent was too offensive, couldn’t play the point guard position and lacked work ethic.
Mitchell said Saunders was near signing Billups and sought advice from Timberwolves players similar to Mitchell, point guard Terrell Brandon and All-Star Kevin Garnett. Mitchell, Brandon and Garnett were confident the rookie would do well in Minneapolis, and Billups and Garnett were close friends dating back to their AAU days. The Timberwolves signed Billups to a three-year, salary-cap contract, paying $2.25 million in the primary 12 months.
“Flip replied, ‘They say he’s selfish. They say it’s this one, they are saying it’s that one,” Mitchell recalled. “And I said, ‘Flip, I do not know him. But why don’t you give him a likelihood? So when he came, Chauncey told me that when he was in Boston, Toronto and Denver, they gave up on him as a point guard and principally told him to only come in and take a look at to attain. So that is what he did.
“And then when he came to Minnesota, I said, ‘Man, if you really want to learn how to play this position and if you really want to change how people think about you, you see this guy over there, Terrell Brandon, watch everything he does and talk with him. He’s a pure point guard…” Chauncey told me, “I need to play that position. No one ever taught me this position. “
Andy Miller, who was Billups’ agent on the time, said his client’s top offer was Minnesota. Miller said the 24-year-old Billups was perceived as an inconsistent and injury-plagued player on the time (Billups had played a total of 58 games in the previous two seasons). Miller added that McHale and Saunders were interested in adding Billups as insurance in case Brandon was injured.
“Chauncey obviously jumps,” Miller said. “He showed some flashes before, but not enough. And if he did not have respect in the league because he was such a precious person, he would probably be a minimum player at this point and wander a bit to search out his way. He had a certain level of talent that hadn’t been uncorked yet, and there was a certain level of respect when the Minnesota thing happened. This was actually a conversation that Kevin McHale, Flip and I had while trying to find a comboguard…
“They saw him as a safety valve who could still learn a position that may keep them young. And it wasn’t often because of the connection Garnett had with him. I do not remember there ever being a problem with selfishness or the rest. I believed it had more to do with his erratic play.
Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
In addition to the pressure of joining one other team, Billups felt pressure to switch Sealy. In these difficult circumstances, the Timberwolves needed Billups not only as a player, but additionally as a positive person.
“I always loved Malik’s game, mainly because he was one of those guys that everyone respected,” Billups said. “I knew it could be difficult to switch him on and off the court. So the perfect thing I did was to not try.
“We had a lot going on, man,” Mitchell said, “and when Chauncey joined our team after what happened with Malik and stuff, it was a blessing for us. Malik was such a good dude and such a good teammate. And then when Chauncey got here in, he almost hit the nail on the top, being such a good guy, being funny. KG and all of us in this team needed someone like that. It’s like God sent us Chauncey.”
Billups had a breakout, healthy 2000-01 season with the Timberwolves and credited much of his turnaround to Brandon and Mitchell. He continued to enhance through the 2001-02 season, averaging 12.5 points and 5.5 assists in 54 games while learning to play the point guard position and familiarizing himself with the NBA’s operations on and off the court.
“Those two guys changed my life, man,” Billups said of Brandon and Mitchell. “Simply put, Terrell taught me how to be a quarterback and everything that comes with it. How to learn my opponents, how to learn my teammates, what to do myself, when to shoot, when to make everything easier. And Sam taught me how to be a professional.”
Miller said what fueled Billups as a free agent was his play through the 2001-02 playoffs for the Timberwolves. With Brandon sidelined, Billups averaged 22 points, 5.7 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 steal in three games against the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks defeated the Timberwolves in a best-of-seven series, but Billups proved he was able to be an NBA point guard.
“At that point, he was ready to begin being a real point guard who was going to make an impact in the league. We also couldn’t take half a step back by waiting for Terrell to grow old or be traded,” Miller said.
The Timberwolves, Pistons and Miami Heat were interested in Billups as a free agent. With the Timberwolves committing Brandon at point guard, Billups missed the chance to begin. Detroit was the place when he signed a five-year, $35 million contract with the Pistons on July 17, 2002. Detroit was Billups’ sixth team in six years.
“When my time in Minnesota got here to an end, I never looked back. I went to Detroit and all of it ended,” Billups said.
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Bob Rosato/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images
Wallace and former Pistons coach Larry Brown, each Hall of Famers, will introduce Billups on stage Sunday evening during his induction speech. Given Billups’ success in Detroit, expect a lot of talk concerning the Pistons. Expect the Timberwolves to get some love as well for laying the groundwork for his path to the Hall of Fame.
“Minnesota put him on the right track,” Mitchell said. “I do not think Minnesota made him a Hall of Famer. His years in Detroit made him a member of the Hall of Fame. The years spent in Minnesota were full of development, learning the sport, leading the team and so forth.
“I don’t know if you could cut the pie into pieces,” Miller said, “but I would say Minnesota was a huge piece of Chauncey going into the Hall of Fame because there wasn’t a level of stability up to that point.”
Oklahoma City-Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has just received the NBA award the most respected player when he noticed something suspicious. Next to his wife Hailey, whom he never saw, sitting at thunder matches, a man sitting outside. Before the guard Thunder in Oklahoma City could raise his eyebrows, he realized that he had an unexpected guest: Chris Paul, his former teammate and mentor.
“It was amazing. It surprised me. I had to like a double shot. I was like:” Who is it with my wife? ” -said Gilgeous -Alexander. “I got a bit, but I saw that it was Chris. And I believed,” cool “. “
Gilgeous-Alexander won his first MVP award after winning the title of scoring and bringing Thunder to 68 wins in the league. The day after his announcement, the NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver, presented him with the MVP trophy before winning 118-103 Thunder over Minnesota Timberwolves in the match of the 2nd finals of the Western Conference on Thursday evening at Paycom Center. Gilgeous-Alexander and The Thunder will pass a 2: 0 series in match 3 on Saturday in Minneapolis.
Paul liked to sit down outside, watching his former teammates, Gilgeous-Alexander and NBA All-Defensive First Tame Luguentz Dort, were recognized for his or her size.
“It means everything to be here,” said Paul and Scape. “You see how Lu finally creates his first defensive team. And take this game with (wife of Gilgeous-Alexander), I am happy with him.”
Gilgeous-Alexander joined other team members behind the striker Thunder Chet Holmgren during an interview after the game broadcast in China. After the interview, Gilgeous-Alexander failed under a protective field to hug and kiss his wife before he reached the smiling Paul, who apparently had his old teammate from the team, considering that he didn’t participate in the game.
“You just lied in my face,” said Gilgeous-Alexander with a smile.
“Who?” Paul said.
Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images
Paul is the future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer with 12-star NBA and is a member of the NBA seventy fifth anniversary team. A 20-year-old NBA veteran who finished May 40 on May 6, said and Scape that he had not yet selected his future. Paul played in all 82 matches in the regular season this season in San Antonio Spurs, but the free agent told in March and Pejzz that he would confer with his wife and two children in the season about whether he should proceed the game.
Paul was also colleagues from the team from Gilgeous-Alexander for one season from Thunder during the NBA season 2019-2020, to which Pandemia Coronavirus affected. In addition to Paweł, it was the first season of Gilgeous-Alexander from Thunder. Los Angeles Clippers was replaced by Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari and five sorts of draft in the first round in Thunder on July 10, 2019 for NBA striker All-Star Paul George.
Paweł enjoyed the mentoring of Gilgeous-Alexander and Dort. In addition to sharing the defense field, it often happened that Gilgeous-Alexander alongside Paweł during the NBA Bubble in Orlando, Florida in 2020. From this one season, Paul became not only a mentor of Gilgeous-Alexander, but a close friend. Gilgeous-Alexander is considered one of the five NBA players in the second season “Start Five” Netflix, and Paul should play a repetitive role due to their relationship.
“He was great, not only as an older brother, a mentor, but he is like a friend,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “There is all the time what you possibly can resist. He was the first guy in my life that I used to be close, who achieved things that I need to realize. And I actually resist him on advice, but not only advice in basketball – business advice, caring for body advice, coping with family after they don’t live with you.
“There are so many things that you deal with as a NBA player, especially his caliber, which go under the radar. His tips were great, not only in matters outside the pitch, not only with all mentoring, simply being there as a friend.”
The love that Paweł has for Gilgeous-Alexander is mutual.
“This is my family.” Especially such a moment. “
Of all the councils given by Paweł Gilgeous-Alexander, the latter said that Paweł was the most respected teaching him about improving his weight-reduction plan. 26-year-old Gilgeous-Alexander said he was a restaurant junkie that loved to eat at the Cheesecake factory and fast food restaurants. Canada’s guilty pleasure was the pizza slices of domino late at night.
Paweł modified the Gilgeous-Alexander weight-reduction plan for the higher during his stay in the NBA bubble.
“When I was younger, I ate terribly,” said Gilgeous-Alexander Andcape. “He showed me how to take care of your body and eat well.”
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Paweł said that he saw the potential of Gilgeous-Alexander to the size before joining the thunder.
Gilgeous-Alexander obtained a median of 19 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists in his first season with Thunder next to Paul. Gilgeous-Alexander won his first of the three NBA ALL-STAR performances in 2023 and took second place behind the center of Denver Nuggets Center Nikola Jokic in MVP voting in 2024. But this season Gilgeous-Alexander won his first MVP award over JOKIC.
“When he was a debutant, I was really close (sports coach Clippers) Jason Powell, even though I left. And he told me about work ethics (Gilgeous-Alexander),” said Paul.
Paul was in the two finals of the Western conference and played in a single NBA final with Phoenix Suns in 2021. Gilgeous-alexander and Thunder are participating in the first finals of the franchise conference since 2016. Since moving with Seattle in 2008, Grzmot was just once in the NBA finals, and lost to Miami Heat in 2012 in 2012. Have talent to change into the first franchise champion.
While reality has only six wins from the first NBA title, Gilgeous-Alexander said that “quite easy” to concentrate on the match of the third finals of the Western conference.
“We had a habit throughout the season, focusing on the next game and worrying about what is ahead of us. It is not different in this situation,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “We are aware of where we are this season. We would hurt ourselves if we directed ourselves from what we got here. And that’s what we are prioritized.”
Paul wouldn’t be surprised if a quote from his precious student and friend. Don’t be surprised if Paul returned to Oklahoma City, supporting his younger brother if he reaches the NBA finals.
“At the end of the day, everything he cares about is winning,” said Paul.
Sports
Remy is to offer the payment of a divorce lawyer Papoose – he is his new Boo, the boxer master, Claress Shields may also enter her
Things definitely develop quickly in a separated, but not separated world, but a music couple, Remy and Papoose.
On Wednesday, May 21, Claress Shields, Olympic Gold-Meedalist Boxer, which is also the only boxer in history-sexual history-to do all 4 predominant titles in boxing in three different weight classes, she went to the “breakfast club” to discuss her coming fight, how she became a master, and of course her relationship. 30 -year -old Shields is in a relationship with Papoose, 47, and speaking of the beginnings of their relationship and the place where they are actually, she mentioned the “elephant in the room” – waiting for divorce between Papoose and Remy, as something to be solved.
Because Remy and Papoose love to solve problems between them through social media, after the interview with Sheilds, Remy is about to remove a few things from her chest, one of which is that Papoose is slowly throwing his divorce proceedings. Remy said that she would even pay for the lawyer if Papoose had no money for it.
“Who I married in 2008 is not who it is now. Now he is a wife. Listen, I would like: Papoose, you have information of my lawyer. If you can’t afford to stop a lawyer, because the lawyer you gave have not yet been stopped, I said that I would pay for it, I will pay for it. Referring to Shields as” someone who loves you, “she said during the IG session.
Since then, there was a tremendous amount on Instagram, each posts and IG lives, some of which were saved, others don’t. Remy has accused Papoose of rinsing and you’ll be able to’t afford … things, and even stopped with alleged jewelry influences, Papoose, he set money. Papoose accused (again) Remy of fraud (although they each accused the second of the same, old news).
Papoose claims that Remy also didn’t submit a divorce application Instead, I try to come back with him, again with alleged influence (seriously people, do everyone wants to go their separate roads or not?) And be blackmailed her guy, Eazy The Block CaptainRemy returned to IG Live, accusing PAP of being a liar and, well, you see where he is going. The most interesting part of this is Brooklyn Rapper, Fabolous, he is caught inside because he published a photo from Remy has Knicks on the game after their similarly tragic, Historical collapse In the game of 1 finals of the Eastern Conference against Indiana Pacers on Tuesday evening.
Now it isn’t good at Gotham City.
Remy Ma (remembers Mackie) and Papoose (Shamele Mackie) mentioned wedding weddings on the phone in 2008, while Remy was imprisoned and eventually was officially married in 2016, at the wedding at “Love & Hip Hop: New York”. Remy was released from prison in 2014. The couple has one child together, recalls, born in 2018, although each Remy and Papoose have children from previous relationships.
Although the best such saga could be privately settled, especially in the case of an athlete star, reminiscent of Shields, who has so many positive noteworthy achievements, sometimes heart matters change into disordered. There are possibilities that the Internet will see more chapters on the Summer Jam screen in order that the world can see.
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After almost 25 years within the team, REnel Brooks-Moon, the primary public announcer of San Francisco Giants, was quietly honored with the dedication of the stand.
Newly named REnel Brooks-Moon Pa stand characteristics Reports a plaque to honor her 24 vertical years with Giants from San Francisco. The dedication took place and not using a formal announcement or ceremony, and Brooks-Moon decided to publicly comment on homage.
“It was an important thing and the right thing we honored her,” said Shana Daum, senior vp of communication and community relations. “Her heritage lives in many ways, including naming the PA stand.”
Honor appears a 12 months after Giants parted with their beloved Brooks-Moon in March 2024, initially promising to vary the name of the stand in the primary half of the season. After delay, the dedication quietly took place on time for the Giants House opener on April 4, even though it recently got here to light.
Brooks-Moon received the title of retired announcer PA, but was excluded from the role of speaking in the course of the most important events, akin to the Celebrations of Life for Willie Mays and Orlando Cepeda. She also skipped other ceremonies due to the unnecessary. A friend announced how difficult it was Brooks-Moon to go away this 12 months’s house opener, which honored the twenty fifth anniversary of the San Francisco Giants 2000 team.
“I recorded every player, every coach”, Brooks-Moon he said Then. “It was only bananas. But it was a great fun. I didn’t realize how much I needed it after I lost what I loved.”
The plaque at her dedicated stand celebrates Brooks-Moon as “one of the first announcers with black baseball women in Major League. She began a cult 24-year career who left an indelible mark in the history of Giants.”
There can be a quote emphasizes the involvement of Brooks-Moon in inspiring the marginalized communities to proceed their dreams.
“I really hope that my time at the stand was inspired by little girls, young women and colorful people, to realize their dreams, even if these dreams seem impossible, because impossible dreams can come true,” we read.
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