Trail Blazers News: Chauncey Billups Makes Naismith Hall Of Fame As Player

After a six-year wait, third-year Portland Trail Blazers head coach has been named to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for his stellar 17-season playing career, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.

Billups, a five-time All-Star point guard and three-time All-NBA honoree, led the 2003-04 Detroit Pistons to a stunning five-game championship against a Hall of Famer-loaded Los Angeles Lakers squad, led by four all-timers in Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton and Karl Malone. The 6'3" Colorado product was named Finals MVP for his efforts.

He also guided his Pistons and later Denver Nuggets squads to a stunning seven straight conference finals appearances, including two straight NBA Finals berths in '04 and '05 (they lost a seven-game grudge match to the San Antonio Spurs).

Across a storied 17-season career, Billups averaged 15.2 points on .415/.387/.894 shooting splits, 5.4 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and one steal. He played in 1,043 regular season bouts across appearances with the Pistons, Nuggets, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers.

He's found less success as a head coach. In his three seasons with Portland, he's posted an 80-160. The team was legitimately trying to compete for the postseason during his first two years with veteran-laden rosters led by All-Star point guard Damian Lillard, but injuries to Lillard and an ill-fitting supporting cast were little help. This season's club was always going to be a rebuild-friendly roster following Lillard's departure.