"Don't know where the hell it came from" - Chauncey Billups shuts down rumors of dubbing Israeli player as Blazers' best talent
Chauncey Billups has denied a report claiming he called Israeli small forward Deni Avdija the best player on the Portland Trail Blazers roster. The 48-year-old tactician shut down the report in an interview with media members on Tuesday.
Recently, a post on X (formerly Twitter) by Forbes reporter Evan Sidery quoted Billups as saying that "Deni Avdija has been their best player leading up to the season."
Chauncey Billups denied making the statement, though he praised Avdija as a key element of the team.
"I don't know where that came from," Billups said of the report.
"Deni is one of out better players, don't get me wrong. But I never said that he's our best player. I wouldn't say that he's our best player but he is a very valuable player to us. I am so excited to coach him," said Billups.
The former Detroit Pistons star-turned-coach also emphasized his frustration with being misquoted.
"I don't like being misquoted ... I am a man of my word. When I say something I want to be represented the right way," Billups said.
During media day, Chauncey Billups said there were days when Avdija was the best basketball player on the team, though he did not refer to him as the team's best player in general.
"Deni... there's been a couple days where he's probably been the best player out there... with his playmaking and just... (he's) a basketball player," he said (4:08 mark).
Billups is entering his fourth season as the Portland Trail Blazers head coach, and the team continues to undergo a rebuild and develop its young roster. During the offseason, a trade with the Washington Wizards saw Deni Avdija move to Portland with Bub Carrington and Malcolm Brogdon going the other way.
Avdija is an exciting prospect. The 23-year-old forward is coming off the best season in his NBA career, averaging 14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists over 75 games for the Wizards last season.
Prior to moving to the United States in 2020, Avdija had plenty of success in the Israeli League where he won three championships and was named the league MVP in 2020.
Can Chauncey Billups lead the Trail Blazers back to the playoffs?
Chauncey Billups had tremendous success as a player over an illustrious 17-year career. The versatile point guard won an NBA title in 2004 with the Detroit Pistons and was named to the All-Star team on five occasions.
However, he has yet to replicate those same highs as a coach.
Over three seasons with the Blazers, Billups has amassed an 81-165 record. He has failed to reach the playoffs in all three of his seasons as a head coach and will aim to break that drought in the 2024-25 season.
The Trail Blazers finished with a disappointing 21-61 record last season, but have added some key pieces this offseason, including rookie Donovan Clingan and guard Devonte Graham.
Billups is in the final guaranteed year of the five-year coaching deal he signed in 2021. The Blazers have a club option for the fifth year of his contract.