Career Timeline of Chauncey Billups: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Chauncey Billups built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Chauncey Billups is a former professional basketball player and current head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. Drafted third overall in 1997, he played 17 seasons in the NBA, most notably with the Detroit Pistons. Billups earned the nickname "Mr. Big Shot" for his clutch performances and led the Pistons to an NBA Championship in 2004, earning Finals MVP. A five-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA selection, and two-time All-Defensive selection, he also played for several other teams. Billups was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024, solidifying his legacy as one of the game's premier point guards.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1985: Led Nuggets back to Conference Finals

In 1985, Chauncey Billups led his team back to the NBA Conference Finals.

1997: Drafted by Boston Celtics

In 1997, Chauncey Billups was drafted third overall in the NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. He recorded 15 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists in his first career game.

1997: NBA Draft

In 1997, Chauncey Billups was selected third overall in the NBA draft by the Boston Celtics after playing college basketball with the Colorado Buffaloes.

February 18, 1998: Trade to Toronto Raptors

On February 18, 1998, Chauncey Billups was traded to the Toronto Raptors along with Roy Rogers, Dee Brown and John Thomas.

January 21, 1999: Trade to Denver Nuggets

On January 21, 1999, Chauncey Billups was traded to the Denver Nuggets in a three-way deal.

February 1, 2000: Trade to Orlando Magic

On February 1, 2000, Chauncey Billups was traded to the Orlando Magic along with Ron Mercer and Johnny Taylor.

November 11, 2000: Season-High Points

On November 11, 2000, Chauncey Billups recorded his season-high in terms of points scored with 31 points for the Timberwolves against the Bucks.

2001: Breakthrough Season

During the 2001–02 season, Chauncey Billups had a breakthrough 2001–02 season with the Timberwolves.

July 2002: Signs with the Detroit Pistons

In July 2002, Chauncey Billups signed a 6-year, $34 million contract with the Detroit Pistons to be the team's new starting point guard.

2002: Opted out of previous contract

In 2002 Chauncey Billups signed a previous contract with the Detroit Pistons, which he later opted out of.

2002: Finishes first in the Eastern Conference

In 2002-03, Chauncey Billups helped Detroit finish first overall in the Eastern Conference with a 50–32 regular season record.

2003: Billups Earns Nickname "Mr. Big-Shot"

During the 2002–03 regular season, Chauncey Billups earned the nickname "Mr. Big-Shot" for making game-winning shots, first on March 9, 2003, against the Golden State Warriors and then on March 26, 2003, against the Atlanta Hawks. He also scored 40 points in game 6 and 37 in game 7 to help the Pistons clinch the series 4-3 against the Orlando Magic.

2004: NBA Championship and Finals MVP

In 2004, Chauncey Billups helped Detroit win the NBA Finals over the Los Angeles Lakers and earned the NBA Finals MVP Award.

2004: NBA Finals MVP

In 2004, Chauncey Billups won the NBA Finals MVP award after helping the Detroit Pistons beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals.

2004: Regular season statistics

In the 2004 season, Chauncey Billups averaged 16.9 points, 5.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.

2005: Named to the NBA Second All-Defensive Team

In 2005, Chauncey Billups was named to the 2005 NBA Second All-Defensive Team. The Pistons reached the 2005 NBA Finals but lost to the San Antonio Spurs.

March 5, 2006: Selected for USA Men's Senior National Team

On March 5, 2006, Chauncey Billups was selected to be a part of the 2006–2008 USA Men's Senior National Team program.

2006: NBA All-Star Game Selection and Three-Point Shootout

In 2006, Chauncey Billups was selected to play in the 2006 NBA All-Star Game as a reserve for the Eastern Conference and participated in the Three-point Shootout contest.

July 11, 2007: Signs four-year contract with the Pistons

On July 11, 2007, Chauncey Billups signed a $46 million, four-year contract with the Pistons.

August 20, 2007: Named to Team USA for FIBA Americas Championship

On August 20, 2007, Chauncey Billups was selected to be a part of Team USA that competed at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship.

2007: All-Star Selection and Shooting Stars Competition

In 2007, Chauncey Billups was chosen as a reserve for the Eastern Conference in the 2007 NBA All-Star Game. He also took part in the Shooting Stars Competition, winning the competition with Team Detroit.

November 3, 2008: Traded to Denver Nuggets

On November 3, 2008, Chauncey Billups was traded back to his hometown team, the Denver Nuggets, along with Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb for Allen Iverson.

November 7, 2008: Debut with the Nuggets

On November 7, 2008, Chauncey Billups played his first game of the Nuggets' 2008–09 season, recording 15 points.

2008: NBA All-Star Game Selection

In 2008, Chauncey Billups was selected to play as a reserve in the NBA All-Star Game.

November 27, 2009: Billups scores 32 points while Anthony scores 50

On November 27, 2009, Chauncey Billups scored 32 points in the Nuggets' win over the New York Knicks, while teammate Carmelo Anthony scored 50. They became only the third duo in NBA history to score at least 30 and 50 points, respectively, in the same game.

2009: All-Star Selection

In 2009, Chauncey Billups was the only Nugget to be selected to the 2009 NBA All-Star Game. He finished the season averaging 17.7 points and 6.4 assists per game.

February 5, 2010: Career High in Points

On February 5, 2010, Chauncey Billups set a career high in points with a 39-point performance in a road win over the Los Angeles Lakers, with 27 of those points coming from 9 three-pointers.

February 22, 2011: Traded to the New York Knicks

On February 22, 2011, Chauncey Billups was traded to the New York Knicks as part of the Carmelo Anthony deal, despite his desire to finish his career in Denver.

December 12, 2011: Claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Clippers

On December 12, 2011, Chauncey Billups was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Clippers after his tenure with the Knicks ended.

December 2011: Waived by the Knicks

In December 2011, the Knicks used their amnesty clause on Chauncey Billups and put him on waivers, ending his tenure with the team.

July 13, 2012: Re-signed with the Clippers

On July 13, 2012, Chauncey Billups re-signed with the Los Angeles Clippers on a one-year deal.

November 28, 2012: Season Debut Against Timberwolves

On November 28, 2012, Chauncey Billups made his season debut with the Clippers against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

July 16, 2013: Signed with the Detroit Pistons

On July 16, 2013, Chauncey Billups signed a two-year, $5 million contract to return to the Detroit Pistons.

June 30, 2014: Pistons Decline Team Option

On June 30, 2014, the Detroit Pistons announced they would not pick up their team option on Chauncey Billups's contract for the 2014–15 season.

2014: Retirement from playing

In 2014, Chauncey Billups retired from playing basketball and began working as a studio analyst.

2014: Joins ESPN as Studio Analyst

In the 2014–15 NBA season, Chauncey Billups joined ESPN as a studio analyst on SportsCenter and other programming.

February 10, 2016: Pistons Retired Billups's No. 1 Jersey

On February 10, 2016, the Detroit Pistons retired Chauncey Billups's No. 1 jersey.

2016: Jersey Retirement

In 2016, the Detroit Pistons retired Chauncey Billups' No. 1 jersey.

2017: Joins BIG3 League

In 2017, the creation of the 3-on-3 professional basketball league BIG3 was announced, with Chauncey Billups set to be a player for the Killer 3's.

August 16, 2019: Joins Los Angeles Clippers Broadcasts

On August 16, 2019, Chauncey Billups announced that he was exiting his role on NBA Countdown to become the game analyst on Los Angeles Clippers telecasts.