Name: Chauncey Ray Billups
Born: September 25, 1976 in Denver, CO
Team: Denver Nuggets
Jersey Number: 7
Position: Point Guard
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 202 lbs.
Nicknames: Mr. Big Shot
High School: George Washington in Denver, CO
College: University of Colorado
Drafted: 1997; 1st round, 3rd pick by the Boston Celtics
Teams Played For In Career:
- Boston Celtics (1997-1998)
- Toronto Raptors (1998)
- Denver Nuggets (1998-2000)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (2000-2002)
- Detroit Pistons (2002-2008)
- Denver Nuggets (2008-Present)
MAJOR AWARDS AND HONORS:
NBA Finals MVP
- 2003-04 NBA Finals MVP
NBA All-Star
All-NBA Teams
- 2005-06 All-NBA Second Team
- 2006-07 All-NBA Third Team
NBA All-Defensive Teams
- 2004-05 All-Defensive Second Team
- 2005-06 All-Defensive Second Team
Background:
As a high school player, Billups was Mr. Colorado Basketball three times, a two-time Colorado Player of the Year, and an All-State first team player all through his high school career. His first cousin, LenDale White, plays for the NFL’s Tennessee Titans.
His Career Thus Far:
After being drafted by the Boston Celtics and along with Ron Mercer hailed as the backcourt of the future for team, Billups was traded to the Toronto Raptors midway through his rookie year. His subsequent stops included the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves. Billups took the opportunity to play while on the Timberwolves roster and ran with it when Terrell Brandon was injured. He and finished the year averaging 12.5 points and 5.5 assists per game and parlayed that production into a free agent deal with the Detroit Pistons as a free agent before the 2002-03 season and it is there that his career has taken off.
Billups led the Pistons to the 2004 NBA Championship, earning the NBA Finals MVP along the way. He is an efficient shooter from the free-throw line, has shown the ability to hit clutch shots in crunch time (hence the nickname above), and distributes the ball well. For a while, Billups and his excellent individual play was hidden within the team concept of the Pistons, however, he has finally received some well-deserved attention with multiple selections to the All-Star game and placing on the All-NBA teams.
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