Sports
Detroit Pistons legend Chauncey Billups made the Hall of Famer play “the right way”
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Portland Trail Blazers coach and former Detroit Pistons guard Chauncey Billups lives by the saying, “If it ain’t hard, it ain’t hard.” This phrase was stitched into his Adidas game shoes during his 17-year NBA profession.
Billups can be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday has been officially announced before the NCAA Men’s Final Four games. He said his journey from Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood to the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., wasn’t easy and at one point was fraught with uncertainty.
Billups was chosen third overall in the 1997 NBA draft by the University of Colorado’s Boston Celtics. Then-coach Ricardo Patton remembered Billups as a young man who wanted to achieve the league.
“He was hungry early on. I think he set some lofty goals for himself at a very young age,” Patton said. Some players just need to get into the league. Chauncey never wanted to simply get there. He desired to help the team succeed and reach the pinnacle of the championship game. He wanted to depart his mark, his mark.”
Billups was the first overall draft pick under Rick Pitino in Boston. The Celtics traded him midway through his rookie season to the Toronto Raptors. The transition from Colorado to the league was not smooth.
Billups had turn into accustomed to dominating talent in his area, but joining a league with larger and smarter talent proved to be an issue. The former shutout spent the early years of his NBA profession as a journeyman, playing for 4 teams over five seasons and trying to seek out his way in the league.
“My fight just happened. It wasn’t anyone’s fault,” Billups said. “I worked hard. I put everything I could into it. I just wasn’t ready. It wasn’t like the coach hated it or anything, I just wasn’t quite ready. I needed work. I had to go back to the drawing board… I was performing poorly results and they had a lot of big, difficult expectations placed on me that I didn’t meet, so whatever they took as truth.”
Frank O’Brien/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Amid uncertainty and increasing talk of being a draft bust, Billups identified weaknesses in his game. He worked along with his longtime coach Joe Abunassar to enhance his grip and decision-making, and likewise worked on ways to create space to shoot. The presence of experienced leaders Terrell Brandon and Sam Mitchell while Billups was with the Minnesota Timberwolves helped lay the foundation for the rest of his profession.
“Those guys got into me, so it wasn’t just me and my coach. So many people were trying to get me to do this,” Billups said. “That’s one of the reasons I was able to make this change.”
When Billups signed with the Detroit Pistons for the 2002-03 season, it finally worked. The former journeyman established himself as a starter and his shooting skills earned him the nickname “Mr. A giant deal.”
“When I got to Detroit, I was finally ready to lead and understand the game (and) understand how to play the position,” Billups said. “I used to be ready then. Once I got there, I just never looked back. That was the end. I figured it out.”
Patton believed that in Detroit, Billups had a lineup that matched the hunger he had seen in the teenage Colorado product nearly a decade earlier.
“One of the things I remember, or I remember him saying, was that there were players on the team that were hungry, players that maybe were struggling in other areas or with other teams,” Patton said. “They had a group of players who were all on the same page in terms of going out to prove they were worthy.”
In his first season with the Pistons, Billups recorded a brand new career-high of 16.2 points. Being part of a Pistons roster consistent with Billups’ personality, he believes the blue-collar mentality in the city is ingrained in the team.
“Let’s go to work. We’ve done everything we can, (then) we’re going home. There’s no glitz, no shine, no nothing,” Billups said. “Well, that’s what Detroit is all about; that’s what Detroit is all about this city (and) the fan base. It was just the perfect mix. That’s who Ben Wallace was as our leader when I got there, that’s who I am. So it was just a perfect marriage.”
Andy Hayt/NBAE via Getty Images
The highlight of his profession got here during his sophomore 12 months when the Pistons defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 in the NBA Finals to win their third NBA championship. This was Billups’ first and only NBA title, and he was named NBA Finals MVP.
“I was very proud that I wanted to show people the chip that I always played with, but I was very proud that I wanted to show people who I could be, so I wanted to win the championship,” Billups said. “I didn’t even care about Finals MVP, I just wanted to be able to lead my team to prove not only to myself but to the whole world that I would be who I said I would be. So that’s what it was for me.”
Billups’ induction makes him the second Pistons player from the 2004 championship team to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, joining Ben Wallace, who was a member of the class of 2021. Billups is also joined by Vince Carter, a member of the 1998 NBA draft class. , players Seimone Augustus, Michael Cooper, Walter Davis, Dick Barnett and Michele Timms; coaches Charles Smith, Harley Redin and Bo Ryan; broadcaster/coach Doug Collins; and owner Herb Simon.
In the six years since he became eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2018, this was Billups’ first 12 months as a finalist. He had been following the process for the past few years, but was never quite sure whether he would turn into a member of the Hall of Fame. Billup’s confidence grew when he became a finalist this 12 months. His introduction got here as no surprise to Patton.
“There was certainly no question in the minds of people who watched him play that he deserved to be a Hall of Famer,” Patton said.
After the results were announced in Glendale, Billups planned to fly to Boston to rejoin the Trail Blazers for Saturday’s game against the Celtics in the city where his skilled profession began. In the 27 years since he joined the league, he has amassed a protracted list of life lessons that he has passed on to his players.
“It’s something I actually have to show them backwards. For example, a man will start going through a difficult period, he’ll fight, or this is occurring, or this is occurring. That’s after I can talk over with them a couple of bit of my journey because I do not discuss myself as a player,” Billups said.
“This is my team and I promised myself that when I take over (and) start coaching, I will never talk about myself and what I have done. Anyway, I’m not that type of person. But I think what I went through is very valuable in certain situations when these guys go through it, and that’s part of why I wanted to do it, because I know I have so much and I’ve been through so much. very much that I can help so many of these guys. So I just pick my spots and when I try to give them that. I know it can help them.”
During his 17 seasons in the NBA, from 1997 to 2014, Billups was a five-time All-Star, a two-time All-NBA Defensive Team member and a three-time All-NBA Player. He played in 1,043 games with the Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks and LA Clippers, ending with profession averages of 15.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists.
“We will not win a third NBA championship without Chauncey’s leadership,” former Pistons guard and Hall of Famer Joe Dumars said in an announcement. “When the ball was in his hands, you just knew he was going to make the right play.”
Billups said all the things he’s completed in sports has been by playing the right way.
“I wasn’t chasing stats, otherwise I’m going to get 35, average 25 and 10,” Billups said. “I wasn’t that player. Most people don’t think they will achieve their goals, earn a living, get this and that if they only play the right way.
“When I say ‘play the right way’, I’m playing for my team. I didn’t play to get the All-Star game (or) on the cover. I played to win and make my teammates better. By doing this, I achieved All-Star status. Playing this way, I won the championship. Now I’ve made the Hall of Famer play this way. Whether it got me into the Hall of Fame or not, I just found solace in playing that way.”
Earvin “Magic” basketball legend Johnson obliged in the amount of $ 500,000 at Louisiana Xavier University helped the school to lift over $ 2 million in his own Gala of the century May 9.
Johnson’s donation for the one centesimal anniversary of the university was transferred to the president of the retired President Dr. Norman C. Francis.
Money collected at the event will support student scholarships.
“A sign of a great man and who appears,” said Johnson at the gala. “Because the man you are, all the wonderful things you did in your star career. And all the people you have helped. You were successful thanks to your great leadership in Xavier … in honor of Dam Xavier $ 500,000.”
Bill Bellama (former MTV VJ) was the host of the ceremony. Jeffrey Osborne, The R&B Legend and former vocalist Ltd.
Francis, a graduate of the University of Xavier, was the president of the school for 47 years, almost half of his existence. He was answerable for sending many black students to a medical school. Under his leadership, students’ records were tripled.
“Our gala of the century was a beautiful success,” said Phillip D. Adams, vp of KSVIERA for institutional progress. “Not only did it honor Xavier five times, but we collected over $ 2 million to secure the future of distinguished students who select Xavier education. In just 100 years Xavier collected various recognition, strengthening as a pacesetter. I’m honored that we were in a position to consistently raise the crucial scholarship funds, and I am unable to wait for what years.
The only historically black and Catholic University of the country, Xavier, occupies the highest number of HBCU throughout the country and recognized as a national leader in the field of STEM and health sciences.
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Michael Jordan joins NBC Sports as a special co-creator of the NBA relationship when the 2025-26 season begins.
NBC announced this on Monday morning during the presentation in advance at Radio City Music Hall, the network offers in the upcoming television season.
“I am very excited about seeing the NBA in NBC,” said Jordan during a video. “NBA on the NBC was a significant part of my career and I am excited that I am a special co -author of the project. I can’t wait to see you all when the NBA on NBC starts in October.”
NBC returns to wearing NBA after 23 years of absence. He had NBA rights in 1990–2002 and carried all six Jordan championships as a member of Chicago Bulls.
For the first time Jordan joined the network. His performances and comments during the documentary film “The Last Dance” about his occupation and the end of the Bulls dynasty in 1998 created many headlines.
“Michael’s heritage on the field and outside he speaks for herself,” said Rick Cartella, NBC sports president. “We are incredibly proud that he joined our relationship.”
The 11-year NBC agreement with NBA and WNBA begins in October. Peacock will only broadcast games on Monday evening, while NBC/Peacock could have regional double “on Tuesday. NBC and Peacock will also introduce” Sunday Night Basketball “in January.
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Although there have been many questions on why Shedeur Sanders (at the moment is assumed) fell to the fifth round last month NFL Draft, one one who understands that where you offers you the option to be going, just mustn’t be as mandatory as what you do is Tom Brady. Brady, probably the largest playmaker in the history of NFL, winning the 7 Super Bowl championships and diverse league MVP from New England Patrots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was 199. The draft selection in 2000 NFL Draft. It also happens that he’s a friend and mentor of Sanders.
Brady recently visited Logan Paweł’s “Impulsive” and, truly, about Sanders and why he had fallen in the project up to now. Brady said that this is a formidable query, but nobody knows why he fell up to now in the project, ensuring that he was not involved in any evaluation or process (Brady is the owner of the NFL Las Vegas Raiders, who chosen two other playmakers during the 2025 project). Brady made available that he wrote Sanders to give him advice and perspectives when he was waiting for the alternative.
“I actually wrote SMSEUR because I know him very well and I said:” Old, as whatever happens, wherever you go, it’s your first day. Day 2 has greater than a sketch. ” I had 199. Who can discuss it higher?
Brady, clearly, feeling optimistic about the way forward for Sanders, he drew attention to other great players who weren’t a high variety of the draft.
“Wherever you finish … It’s about your performance. What do you do when you get there? Because you will get there. I was near the best players who were unable to free agents. It was Rodney Harrison. Rodney Harrison was not a great choice. Julian Edelman was not a high choice. Wesker was not a high choice. Danny Amendola. All these guys were phenomena.”
Cleveland Browns chosen Sanders with 144. Choosing a draft and enters the playmaker with five other people fighting for the game time: Joe Flacco, Deshaun Watson, Kenny Picket and the second playmaker Browns chosen in Draft 2025, Dillon Gabriel. Given this crowded space, Brady’s message to Shedeur rings loudly.
“So what is the meaning than an excessive day when many people sell stories and says:” All right, it’s an incredible day and this is a project and it is a vital day and it is a funny and I like the proven incontrovertible indisputable incontrovertible proven proven proven undeniable incontrovertible proven undeniable proven proven undeniable proven undeniable incontrovertible indisputable proven incontrovertible indisputable proven undeniable undeniable undeniable undeniable proven undeniable incontrovertible proven undeniable indisputable indisputable undeniable indisputable incontrovertible indisputable incontrovertible incontrovertible proven undeniable indisputable undeniable proven proven proven proven incontrovertible proven undeniable undeniable proven undeniable incontrovertible undeniable undeniable incontrovertible undeniable undeniable indisputable incontrovertible undeniable indisputable indisputable incontrovertible proven undeniable undeniable indisputable indisputable incontrovertible incontrovertible undeniable indisputable incontrovertible proven proven incontrovertible undeniable undeniable incontrovertible proven proven proven incontrovertible proven proven indisputable proven incontrovertible indisputable incontrovertible undeniable proven incontrovertible undeniable incontrovertible undeniable undeniable indisputable proven incontrovertible proven proven proven incontrovertible indisputable proven proven undeniable incontrovertible proven incontrovertible indisputable undeniable indisputable incontrovertible undeniable proven undeniable incontrovertible proven undeniable undeniable undeniable indisputable proven proven undeniable incontrovertible incontrovertible proven proven proven indisputable incontrovertible undeniable indisputable undeniable undeniable undeniable incontrovertible incontrovertible indisputable indisputable proven undeniable undeniable proven undeniable indisputable incontrovertible indisputable indisputable proven undeniable undeniable incontrovertible indisputable undeniable proven indisputable incontrovertible undeniable proven indisputable proven indisputable undeniable proven proven indisputable indisputable incontrovertible incontrovertible incontrovertible undeniable incontrovertible indisputable indisputable proven incontrovertible proven indisputable incontrovertible proven proven undeniable indisputable incontrovertible undeniable undeniable proven undeniable proven proven incontrovertible incontrovertible proven incontrovertible undeniable proven incontrovertible undeniable proven indisputable indisputable undeniable indisputable indisputable indisputable indisputable indisputable incontrovertible indisputable undeniable undeniable undeniable indisputable indisputable undeniable proven proven proven indisputable incontrovertible undeniable proven incontrovertible indisputable indisputable indisputable proven undeniable undeniable proven proven indisputable indisputable incontrovertible proven undeniable incontrovertible proven incontrovertible incontrovertible incontrovertible incontrovertible undeniable undeniable undeniable proven undeniable proven proven incontrovertible proven undeniable proven proven incontrovertible indisputable indisputable indisputable proven indisputable undeniable indisputable undeniable incontrovertible indisputable incontrovertible proven indisputable proven indisputable undeniable incontrovertible incontrovertible proven incontrovertible indisputable proven indisputable proven proven proven indisputable indisputable undeniable proven incontrovertible incontrovertible indisputable undeniable proven indisputable indisputable proven incontrovertible incontrovertible proven incontrovertible undeniable proven undeniable incontrovertible proven undeniable proven incontrovertible undeniable proven indisputable indisputable undeniable incontrovertible indisputable incontrovertible proven proven incontrovertible undeniable undeniable incontrovertible proven indisputable indisputable incontrovertible proven proven undeniable fact that they watch and see it, but I used to be also there on the day of the second day. “
I hope Sanders took Brady’s word to heart – he clearly values the opinion of his mentor. Perhaps due to this relationship Sanders apparently wears Jersey number 12, He wore the same number of brady during his occupation. During highschool and college, Sanders wore Jersey number 2, who was He has recently retired through the University of Colorado, Where Sanders played his last two years of university football.
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