In a twenty-four hour span, the NBA saw two of their own move into the head coaching ranks.
First came the reports that the Dallas Mavericks hired their former point guard, Jason Kidd, to a four-year deal. Then late Friday night, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the Portland Trailblazers hired Clippers’ assistant Chauncey Billups as their new head coach.
Their hires bring both applause and questions.
As a player, Kidd dominated the NBA hardwood as a triple-double threat every night. He was selected second overall by the Mavericks in the 1994 NBA Draft and had an immediate impact. He was named co-Rookie of the Year, led the league in assists five times and retired in second place on the all-time assists list. The ten-time All-Star played with teams such as the Mavericks, Suns, Nets and Knicks. He led the Nets to back-to-back Finals appearances (2002, 2003) and won an NBA Title with the Mavericks (2011), He also won two Olympic Gold Medals with Team USA (2000, 2008).
Chauncey “Mr. Big Shot” Billups was regarded as one the toughest point guards in the league. Billups was selected by the Boston Celtics with the third overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft. He played for the Raptors and Timberwolves but made his mark with the Pistons. In 2004, Billups won the 2004 NBA championship with Detroit and was named Finals MVP. In his career, Billups was a five-time All-Star and a two-time All-Defensive Team player.
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