Chauncey Ray Billups

(born September 25, 1976, in Denver, Colorado) is an American professional basketball player. Billups is the starting point guard and team captain for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association. He played college basketball at the University of Colorado, where he was honored in 2004 as the fifth player to have his jersey (number 4) retired. His nicknames are "Mr. Big Shot" and "Smooth". He was the 2004 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.

High school

Chauncey Billups attended Denver's George Washington High School, where he was a four-time All-State first team pick, Colorado Mr. Basketball three times, and Colorado Player of the Year as a sophomore and as a junior. He was selected to the 1995 McDonald's All-American Team but did not play due to a shoulder injury, an injury that he would have a problem with off and on throughout his early career.

College

Billups attended the University of Colorado, where he averaged 18.5 points per game over his two seasons. In the 1996-97 season he was named to the Big 12 Conference First Team and the Basketball Times All-American First Team.

Early NBA years

Drafted third overall in the 1997 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics, Billups was traded to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Kenny Anderson midway through his first season. Billups then played for the Denver Nuggets, who traded him to the Orlando Magic, although he was on the injured list until season's end and never played a game for Orlando (he was included on the season-ending team photo, wearing jersey number 2).

He was signed by the Minnesota Timberwolves as a back-up to then point guard Terrell Brandon. Billups replaced the often-injured Brandon and had a breakthrough 2001-2002 season. In June 2002 Billups signed with the Detroit Pistons as a free agent to be the team's new starting point guard.

Detroit Pistons

When he signed with the Pistons, Billups was forced to take the number 1 (Ironically, Pistons number 1 jersey was originally worn by Lindsey Hunter before he was once traded away) because number 4 was retired in honor of Joe Dumars.

Billups quickly established himself in the Pistons squad, earning respect from fans and colleagues for his tenacious defense and clutch shooting. He helped lead the Pistons to the 2004 NBA Finals, averaging 21 points and 5.2 assists per game in the series to earn the Finals MVP Award in a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. In 2005, the Pistons lost the Finals in seven games to the San Antonio Spurs. He was also named to the 2005 NBA Second All-Defensive Team, along with teammate Tayshaun Prince, while teammate and co-captain of the Pistons Ben Wallace took home the Defensive Player of the Year Award.

In 2006, Billups was co-captain of the team. Although he captained the Pistons to a franchise best 64-18 record, they failed to make it to the Finals for the first time in three years. He also led the league in assist to turn-over ratio.

Billups became one of the team's tri-captains along with Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton (following Ben Wallace's signing with the Chicago Bulls due to free-agency) Billups has attained a reputation around the league as basketball a talented point guard, confident leader, and clutch player.

On July 11, 2007, Billups signed a $46 million, four-year contract (with a team option for a fifth year at $14 million). Billups had been an unrestricted free agent for several days after he opted out of the previous contract which he had signed in 2002.

During a game 3 playoff game against the Orlando Magic, Billups pulled a hamstring after going for a ball. He missed game 4 but the Pistons defeated the Magic 90-89 to take a 3-1 series lead when Tayshaun Prince hit the game-winning shot with 8.9 seconds left.

All-star weekend

In 2006 Billups was selected to play in the 2006 NBA All-Star Game as a reserve for the Eastern Conference along with teammates Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace. Pistons head coach Flip Saunders coached the Eastern Conference squad and put all four Pistons in the game at the same time, which was a major factor in the game's outcome.

During the 2006 NBA All-Star Weekend, Billups participated in the Three-point Shootout contest. He was eliminated in the first round of the contest after scoring 12 points.

In the 2007 NBA All-Star Game Billups was again chosen along with teammate Richard Hamilton and as a reserve for the Eastern Conference despite an injury that kept Billups out of five games early on in the season. Billups also took part in the Shooting Stars Competition alongside former Piston and Detroit Shock head coach Bill Laimbeer and Shock star Swin Cash. Team Detroit won the competition with Billups hitting the final half-court shot.

In the 2008 NBA All-Star Game, Billups was chosen again along with teammates Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace as a reserve who replaced Kevin Garnett who was out with an abdominal strain.

Billups is married to Piper and has three children: Cydney, Ciara, and Cenaiya. His good friend, NBA player Kevin Garnett, is the godfather to Billups's second daughter Ciara. His younger brother, Rodney, was a point guard for the University of Denver and was recently drafted in the NBA D-League.He is the first cousin of running back LenDale White of the Tennessee Titans.

Billups enjoys listening to his favorite rapper, 2Pac, and also enjoys Jay-Z. He lists his favorite athlete as Magic Johnson and has said the reason he wore the number 4 in college and on his previous NBA stops was because he idolized former Pistons guard (and current Pistons President of Basketball Operations) Joe Dumars. His favorite NFL team is the Denver Broncos.

Billups is featured on the cover of the video game NBA Ballers: Phenom and is the player's mentor.

Billups has signed endorsement deals with Vitamin Water, Ford and still has a relationship with Tahitian Noni. He is also a partner in a new restaurant opening in Miami Beach called Philippe.

On June 16, 2008, Billups appeared at Joe Louis Arena for a Sen. Barack Obama rally. Billups warmed up the crowd for Obama and encouraged voter registration.

Bio courtesy of Wikipedia.com