The Trail Blazers are receiving public backlash about their choice to hire Chauncey Billups as their next head coach, but the criticism won’t affect their decision, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (video link from “NBA Countdown).
The outcry is related to a sexual assault case involving Billups and some of his teammates in 1997. No criminal charges were brought against Billups, and the case was ultimately settled in civil court.
Wojnarowski says that after talking to Billups on Wednesday, Blazers management conducted an investigation of the charges. Billups’ version of the events in subsequent interviews with general manager Neil Olshey and owner Jody Allen were consistent with what the investigation found and he was offered the job Friday night, Wojnarowski adds.
Portland continues to work out contract details with Billups and is expected to announce his hiring sometime in the next few days, according to Wojnarowski.
The choice of Billups has been unpopular in the Portland media, with John Canzano of The Oregonian calling it “the most pathetic hiring charade in state history.” He points out that the Trail Blazers had a chance to make history by hiring Spurs assistant Becky Hammon, who was a finalist for the job, or they could have brought back Ime Udoka, a former assistant with the team, who was hired by the Celtics instead.
Canzano says the decision on Billups is the work of Olshey, who settled on him early as the primary candidate. Canzano suggests that Olshey has too much power in the organization and is ignoring the team’s history of alienating fans by having too many players accused of serious crimes.
The negative response has even reached Blazers star Damian Lillard, who identified Billups as one of his preferred choices shortly after the team parted ways with Terry Stotts, writes Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian.
After being accused by a fan of being responsible for Billups’ hiring, Lillard tweeted, “Really? I was asked what coaches I like of the names I ‘heard’ and I named them. Sorry I wasn’t aware of their history I didn’t read the news when I was 7/8yrs old. I don’t support Those things … but if this the route y’all wana come at me… say less.”
If they had one of the top picks this year the Blazers would find the next Sam Bowie.
Wait so people are really caught up about something that happen over 20 years ago but kidd might of done worse and you hear nothing
Haha I thought the same thing. I mean Kid history is more serious but again that was a long time ago. Let the man make a living!
“Let the man make a living” sure, he can learn to code in a non-public, non-high profile, non-high paying job, just like anyone else!
He’s a hall of famer and deserves a 2nd chance. Keep it moving!!!
WTF does him being a HOF’er have to do with anything Uncle??? It’s OK to abuse women if you are a HOF’er? Is that what you are saying?
I don’t understand how anyone can call the Kidd situation worse. They seem different to me.
Drunk driving plus assault/domestic violence are different than rape.
That’s simply not the case regarding Kidd. There’s outcry there too if you read articles. Especially with the Mavs history of treating women within the organization
Kidd might [have] done worse? Is there an allegation I’m unaware of with Kidd? I feel like sexual assault is worse than hitting someone. These are all allegations, and from a long time ago, but saying Kidd is worse than Billups is a stretch, imo.
Do we really need to debate which is worse between gang rape and beating your wife? They both are garbage people who have had everything handed to them since 14 and are entitled with no self control.
Just read the allegations.
First of all, Mercer and Billups were essentially no names at that point so the common retort of “She’s just looking for a pay out” seems to ring a bit hollow.
Secondly, the allegation is horrific rape. Gang rape. Not just a bad date. Not domestic violence. Legitimate rape. Physically coerced sexual intercourse.
Bottom line: The NBA can’t be selectively woke. This doesn’t strike me as a baseless allegation by any means. So why is this the first anyone is hearing of this? Billups was on TV for years—no one cared until now?
No charges faced. How can you convict a man whom the cops couldn’t prove a case against?
He paid to settle… that in my book ain’t what an innocent man does, right?
Happens all the time. Cheaper to settle. The burden of proof id much, much lost in a civil case.
Billup’s involvement is unclear. Semen was collected in the tape kit but info did not get released as a payoff was made… Billups was around but the accuser blacked out.
The issue is that Hammon was not hired. Kidd is a different issue. Let’s avoid combining dislikes.
Nothing to see here! The better candidate got the job! The team’s failure to win anything with a top 3 PG should draw public outrage more than anything else. Now time to move CJ and certainly not for that mentally weak Simmons. Mf should go play in Australian league and learn how to knock down a free throw!
Honestly…. Point guards are overrated in today’s NBA. They put up big scoring numbers but have little effect on their team winning meaningful games.
All the best teams have great players at center and/or on the wing. Just think about it… Steph Curry can’t even make the playoffs unless his team is pretty stacked. So… The position is clearly overrated.
Just go look at the list of NBA championship teams. Work through the list. You’ll see that they all have all star caliber centers. It’s not a coincidence!
Wait… remind me which all star caliber center did Steph have for his title runs?
And really was the team they ran out most of this season with like 9 healthy bodies at any one time really anything close to mediocre. Steph gassed himself almost single handedly ending the Lakers, and he pushed them so hard they folded immediately after. I swear both teams would have moved on if that game was a blowout where everyone rested.
“Steph Curry can’t even make the playoffs unless his team is pretty stacked”
GSW finished 8th this year. Your comment is loaded and just plain stupid. The play-in is literally the post-season. Steph Curry played with no one all year and single handedly put the team on his back to the likes no one has ever seen before.
2015 exists, GSW were not “pretty stacked” then.
You lie, yet you act as if you are telling truths. Curious.
If you want to blame someone for the GSW not being higher, blame the FO that didnt request a hardship at any point when 4 were down. Not really even trying to sign a little extra help when the team was playing short. Oh and it wouldnt have been hard to grab one back of the rotation player at the deadline for a future second.
Like no one else ever seen before? Um LBJ and Cavs team vs Spurs and Cavs team vs GSW when Irving and Love were injured???
This thread is off-point.
The play is bot the post season. If the stats aren’t post season, the game isn’t post season.
And the 2015 Warriors were definitely stacked, wtf.
Marc Gasol was a starting Center on Toronto. You need a good team to win. Brook Lopez may win it this year. We shall see. Ayton is awesome though!!!
They got move Nurkic too! Dude said that he was unsure if he wants to run it back. How about you stay healthy for one single year, not get dominated by Jokic in playoff and keep your mouth shut!
Yeah! How dare you get dominated by……the MVP of the league! Oh, wait a minute….
That Canzano guy is a clown. He solely preferred Hammon bc it would have fit his narrative. Could not care less about the team. Billups was the right guy.
25 years ago this happened, seems kind of ridiculous to harp on this now that he’s about to be a HC.
While I agree his point about the hire is stupid, it’s not the media’s job to be a fan of the team they are covering. I think they also drive their own narratives way too far though, and from what I’ve read in this case, that has 100% happened. They hired who they wanted to hire for their team who they think will do the best job. Are they right? We will find out. The media calling them out like this is pretty ridiculous in this case though.
It doesn’t matter how much time has passed since he rapped that women, that shit should follow him. Time doesn’t erase something like that, the only legitimate argument you have is that he wasn’t charged so we don’t actually know what happened. It’s sort of like with Derrick Rose, if he isn’t charged then you really can’t be certain that it happened, and therefore it’s probably best to leave it be. However if he were charged I don’t care if it’s 50 years.
So allegations have a time limit?
Yeah when unverified I guess they do.
This would be a terrible situation for Becky.
They’re made to win now with dame. If they were to struggle she would be in jeopardy of her job, and if she got fired then the players and organization would be labeled misogynists.
She seems like a good coach. She should go to a magic were they’re rebuilding and she’s part of the process of building the culture and environment.
This “Best for Becky” talk is based on an assumption of likely non-competitiveness; An admission of less competence on Hammon’s behalf. Makes no sense; why advance her at all then?
If pressure is a problem, the situation that the Blazers are sliding down anyway would benefit Hammon by reducing expectations.
Lol, there’s a lot of cities that will support the Blazers if the fans really don’t like it. Seattle would let Charles Manson coach if they got the Sonics back.
Seems more like a media driven narrative than a fan driven one at this point. Canzano is up in arms for whatever reason, but I don’t know if the actual fans are that upset. Let’s see what Chauncey can do
Yeah I was thinking y’all gone screw around and make the only thing decent about your team leave. Without Damn Portland is dog shi.
Lol I knew that the Portland media would pull this crap. What a joke! Mind your own business!
Dame deserved better than the Blazers.
Emotional thread
As expected.
So, it doesn’t matter that no criminal charges were brought, or that there’s no evidence that any could have been, BECAUSE who really cares about that anyway, the point is they should have hired someone else to start with. We’re just bringing that up to make the process of not giving us what we want as painful as possible.
As far as the NBA is concerned, Billups, if hired, is being hired at the instance of Jody Allen (the team governor). If she wanted Hammon, she’d be the HC. Yeah, she’d have to want to hire her enough to overrule the guy who works for her.
Paying people to not press charges is literally the oldest trick in the book for rich people. Its why these little prep school kids get away with stuff, as long as daddy will pay!
Exactly, but the problem is that trick has also been used by accusers to get paid $$
Charges? Victims of crime don’t bring charges against the perpetrator, law enforcement does. Here, a supposed rape victim commenced civil litigation, which can only be to get $$. It’s not the way any competent attorney would advise a true rape victim to proceed.
In any event, it’s clearly not what anyone bringing it up actually cares about. They want a woman hired. She wasn’t. So, they’re throwing a tantrum, trying to smear a guy for seeking out the job.
There is no evidence that owner Allen wanted Hammon; the rumor of it could just as likely be a planted item to take heat off Olshey for dragging Hammon around to cover different intentions. If Allen says so now, she is just smoothing things out.
Agreed. Allen wants to come off as an advocate, but the problem here is that she (not Olshey) is the final decision maker. She’s the boss, and she’s in the meeting. She’s a pushee, not a pusher, for a candidate.
The comments in here are horrific. Thread should be locked.
For real. If it’s not trolls, it’s whiny losers complaining about ‘liberals’ and being ‘woke’. Pathetic, really.
It is soooooo weird that people who like basketball hate wokeness. Is this thread full of Utah fans or something. SALT LAKE IN THE HOUSE!
I bet these boys are conflicted so bad it hurts, they are clearly NBA super fans (otherwise you wouldn’t be here) but their propaganda of choice says they must hate everything about the NBA even the players and coaches they love. Ouch, it feels good to realize both political parties are equally corrupt and shitttty.
Also funny because they’re just playing right into the media’s hands, as if they actually own and run the city. I couldn’t care less about what the Portland-based media says or does.
But they know their takes will generate love it or hate it clicks, which is all that matters to most media, liberal or conservative. Too bad people can’t separate them from the actual folks who live there, let alone enough to focus on basketball.
So I’ll do that. Since nothing was ever proven with Billups and no investigations have turned up anything, it is what it is: a seemingly good hire with a tiny bit of baggage. I’d have probably made the same choice. And better for Hammon to start her head coaching tensure without the pressures of leading a desperate playoff team. Her time will come.
Oh, and I’m an evil liberal. Boo.
steelers21 gotta go
Agreed.
I’m not against political vitriol. And a lot of times I agree with the notion that people are too sensitive in our era when it comes to VERBAL preferences etc.
But the fact this is a serious rape allegation and more than one person is posting DERRRRR POLITICAL CORRECTNESS is nothing less than reprehensible.
The liberal talk is about the Hammon angle given the past allegations against Billups.
The reporter Conzano is specified. And Conzano too (as quoted by HR) though in likely opposition.
It is posters bringing Kidd into it. B69 is in error and showing a problem processing by combining his dislikes into one big yuckpile.
x% — what would you call the allegations then when a medical doctor says a female has wounds consistent with coerced intercourse, since you’re so much wiser on this issue? Just a bad night out?
Because it almost seems to me your holier than thou approach here is the one that’s in error. I read the allegation in detail—your comments seem to suggest your denying the accuser’s credibility before even familiarizing yourself with the case.
Do you know more? I feel that this is getting sprung at us for another reason, to support another issue (Hammon). If it was decisive on it’s own, it would have been publicized before now, for any of his other openings.
I read a couple articles mentioned in tweets. They said the accuser did Not name him except as being around. Rape kit details were not released. Are you saying otherwise with more research? I could assume more, like why Billups admitted to anything at all— because they did find semen?— but that is not fair to assume, when he did admit to favors from no coercion.
Like Gary said, he could have stopped it with enough effort. I presume he knows better now, and should say so.
I agree with your take, but at the same time how important is it to be fair in general. It’s not nothing, but it’s an unproven allogation absent of legitimate evidence.
I think whoneedsfacts is referring to bs69. My post is a mess unfortunately. I meant liberal talk by conservatives who specify Conzano. (Not that these lib/con terms mean much anymore).
bs69 the “political correctness” comments are about Hammon not Billups. About hiring a HC, not about an alleged crime years ago not even including him necessarily.
Honestly, I’m not even sure what I’m arguing about anymore at this point, so I’m bowing out of this one after this post. Thread is a mess.
All I’ll say is to finish is no one should be barred from employment due to an allegation—up to and including Billups.
Having said that, posts like steelers21 saying women shouldn’t be involved in sports—after I read what the girl went through (clearly someone had their way with her, whether or not it was Billups)—set me off a tad.
But it’s the internet. They have a right to their takes, as idiotic as they may be to me.
The thread should not be locked. rct should be able to get his views in too. antsmith7 is the horrible one with his intolerance.
How so? I see a lot of people dismissing serious allegations
which allegations? Why are they all getting jammed together? Why not wonder that? Say ba a a a, sheep
Ummm did Dame just request a trade on twitter???
Oh you mean guy who tweeted “SORRY I DIDNT READ ABOUT RAPE WHEN I WAS 7 DONT @ ME”
He’s kind of a clown.
No he didnt.
Seems funny to me how folks here were killin’ J-Kidd for some minor legal issues he had like 10/18 years ago (which I do not condone in anyway) but seem to say well with Billups is ok ’cause it happen 24 years ago… I truly don’t see the logic of that!
I mean in my mind there is no doubt that gang raping a young woman is just ’bout the worse crime that can be committed in this world… one must wonder why folks would dismiss it, but take a harder stance on minor legal issues like J-Kidd had!
That’s the question, right?
The question about the rape is, is Billup’s semen in the rape kit. The rapee did not name him; he was just in the same house.
All these posts and nobody gets specific.
The allgations are “new” to readers here. How solid are they? It was apparently a gang-rape situation. Did Billups participate?— a ringleader?— off in the corner vomitting?
I read a twitter account which did not indicate Billups was active in it, but was around, a comedy club outing with a group including football players Micl.Irvin & Dennis Smith, leading to a private home.
The accuser can only specify Irvin, then blacked out. There was evidence of multiple males and probable rape from a rape kit. Billups only indicated there was contact initiated in his car by her earlier.
Irvin has quite the bad-boy rep and he does not play it down. He is/was often on tv as a studio guy.
This is the worst that can be said?
So let’s move on.
This is about Billups/Hammon not Billups/Kidd. I have posted earlier about the Hammon involvement but got modded arguing.
You’re very quick to dismiss these kinds of allegations. I wonder why that is
How about we trust in the justice system and if a person is free and not incarcerated, then they are free to pursue opportunities?
They are free to peruse opportunities but for once I’d like to see an organization have some standard and say, “We won’t put individual’s with credible accusations of physical and sexual abuse against another person in a position of power. We believe in second chances but we also should be hiring individuals with the highest character.”
There are allot more people who have never done anything like what Kidd and Billups have done or been accused of doing. For once I’d like an organization/corporation take a zero tolerance policy on this issue. There are plenty of garbage teams and company’s who will give them an opportunity. Why should the Blazers and Vulcan be one of them?
Everyone should read the details of this story. Chauncey and Kidd really do have their histories. Jason had his hit and run in 94, bashed his wife, DWI etc
Wasnt Derrick Rose in a similar situation?
No cuz he had that POS Isaiah Thomas to back him.
Eh with Rose it was his ex girlfriend, she text him to come over, he asked can I bring my boys, she said yes. His defense in court was if your asking me and my boys to come over at 2am you know what’s going to happen, the judge apparently agreed and got some D Rose autographs for his grandson.
No criminal charges were brought against him…and people still want to cancel him. Billups would not have been my pick, but not because of this lol. If I was looking for a coach I would call Sam Cassell. Shoot I would take him over Doc right now if I could.
Where was all this backlash while he was still playing in the league? He was known as a respected player years after this.
Where was this backlash when he worked for espn?
Where was this backlash when he was hired to be an assistant coach?
(Not towards anyone particularly, just saying.)
Innocent until….
Screw that, slide me over my keyboard, the world awaits in agony for my keystrokes.
I’m going to State my opinion here at the risk of getting lambasted as it seems every other post is. But this is my strong opinion.
If Billups was there in the room then he should have done
EVERYTHING WITHIN HIS POWER TO STOP
whatever happened that violated this young girl. You say you are off in a corner and not participating..,
I SAY YOU ARE STILL GUILTY.
Billups should have ran over broke it up before anything escalated. Not doing anything is the crime in my opinion. Yes just my opinion and voicing it here. Prepared for any backlash this opinion generates. So be it.
This is true.
And if Jody Allen had not pulled Hammon in for a futile second interview, would anyone know about it?
Have you read the details of the story? From what I’ve read there’s nothing about Billups claiming he was “in the room”.
Chauncey says they had consensual oral sex in a car after a night out and that’s it. He said he didn’t go to Walker’s apartment.
What he did or didn’t do, I have no idea. But there’s no one claiming he was in a room but doing nothing to stop a rape from what I’ve read.
Funky time if he wasn’t in the room then he should be clean. This should be a non-story.
@Gary you are sooo right!!!
Billups is guilty even if only by association… that is why probably he paid, the guilty conscience was botherin’ him, he is a coward!
I’ll tell you one thing and I’m not ashamed to say it, my estimation of Chauncey Billups as a man just f**king plummeted.
Like a lot of people, I’ve literally never heard about the Billups/Mercer thing before until today. I’m stunned it managed to just slip my radar all this time. The fact no charges were filed means nothing when there was a very quick settlement and the rape kit administered corroborated the woman’s story. To hell with Billups and Ron Mercer (I’m sure this is the most online traction his mediocre ass will ever receive, so whatever).
Like he’s really going to last longer than three seasons in Portland anyway. It was a lame hire. Lillard may have wanted it but I don’t necessarily thing Lillard know what coach is needed to get him a championship (hint: won’t happen in Portland).
Nothing is proven. But even if he made a mistake … so then he shouldn’t have been able to continue his career. People should have been outraged he got to keep his job and win a championship. People should be mad he is an assistant head coach. Anyone who buys his jersey supports rape. I mean come on people. Where does it end? Either he’s allowed to continue working or not. He’s not in jail, let him live. If he did anything to hurt that woman, then he’s got to live with that. But nothing was proved. We don’t know what happened. Even if he settled that doesn’t mean anything. You can settle just because you are rich and want to just move on from the controversy. We just don’t know. Enough is enough with all the complaining.