Valencia.- The first session of the Valencia Pre-Olympic left a snapshot before starting. An almost empty Fonteta to watch the duel between Finland and the Bahamas with Few spectators in the stands, but with some illustrious visitors with star rank in the seats of the Valencian venue.
This is the case of Chauncey Billups, current coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and former player of the Detroit Pistonswho has decided to spend a few days in Valencia to follow everything that is happening in the Pre-Olympic Games. He does so as a spectator, stationed in the fifth row on one of the sides, but he does not lose sight of anything that happens on the track.
“I’m here to see, above all, the Bahamas and especially DeAndre Ayton”Billups points out to Relevo’s question. The Bahamian giant is one of his pupils at the Portland Trail Blazers where he is the coach. In fact, he is one of the players around whom the Oregon team wants to rebuild its roster. “He’s had a great season with us and we hope he continues like this.”
With his eyes set on the court, the current Blazers coach also wants to keep an eye on Spain, which he sees as the big favorite in the tournament. “I’m looking forward to seeing Spain. They’re a great team, with great players and a great tradition.”Billups concludes before taking his seat.
Chauncey Billups is considered one of the best point guards of the early 21st century. He won the NBA championship in 2004 with the Detroit Pistons, he divided his career between the Michigan team, Celtics, Raptors, Timberwolves, Clippers, Knicks and the Nuggets of his native Denver.
The Colorado point guard came to the NBA after being selected as the third overall pick in the 1997 draft behind Tim Duncan and Keith Van Horn after two years at the University of Colorado. In his 17-year career (he retired in 2014) he accumulated 15,802 points (15.2 points per game), 5,636 assists (5.4) and 1,051 (1,007) steals in 1,043 games.
In that thousand encounters he had time to be Finals MVP, 5-time All Star and twice selected to the league’s All-Defensive Team. Merits that led him to see his number retired by the Pistons. Now, after a season as an assistant with the Clippers, he has been in charge of the Blazers since 2021, with 81 wins and 165 losses.
2024-07-02 16:18:39
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