OKC Thunder should usurp Clippers to hire Chauncey Billups as head coach

Chauncey Billups is the perfect head coach choice for OKC Thunder but timing is of the essence to nab the former Finals MVP.

While Sam Presti continues his search to fill the vacant OKC Thunder head coach seat, there is a former player who would be a perfect choice. That person is Chauncey Billups who the LA Clippers are about to add as an associate coach to newly-promoted Ty Lue’s staff.

If you’ve caught Chauncey Billups in his television appearances his high I.Q. and acumen is on par with arguably the best in the business the Van Gundy brothers. Leading into the NBA restart in Orlando, Stan Van Gundy’s film breakdown of teams was unparalleled as was his in-game analysis. Billups has a similar ability and should be a leading candidate for the OKC Thunder job.

As per above, much like all good ideas, people tend to have them simultaneously. Shams Charania tweeted the Clippers want to add Billups as the lead assistant under new head coach Ty Lue. But, surely Lue wouldn’t stand in the way if Sam Presti was keen to offer the former player a more prestigious position at the top of the coaching row.

OKC Thunder should leap to hire Chauncey Billups as head coach

This might seem like a strange suggestion but Billups feels like the perfect selection to become the next OKC Thunder head coach in spite of having no experience. Many former players become coaches and the ones who typically can make the move directly from player to the main bench boss role have something in common — they were successful point guards.

Some of the recent examples of point guards who made the leap are Jason Kidd, Derek Fisher, and most recently Steve Nash. This trio covers the spectrum with Kidd experiencing initial success, Fisher struggled with the Knicks and the jury is still out on Nash as he prepares for his first season in Brooklyn.

Like Kidd and Fisher, Billups brings a championship pedigree to the table having won a ring with the Detroit Pistons. He was the MVP of that title run and his lethal knockdown triples earned him the moniker Mr. Big Shot.

The former point guard elected to pursue television when he retired and when he showed interest in returning to the game initially he was more interested in becoming a general manager. That shifted this year as Billups became more interested in coaching.

Billups credentials and winning attitude are unparalleled:

Run through the checklist and there aren’t many boxes that Billups doesn’t check off. It took him years to find a team and system that utilized his skill set to its full potential so he knows what it’s like to struggle. His ability to immediately pinpoint a weakness (as he consistently demonstrated in his ESPN analysis) is a transferable and much-needed ability as a head coach.

Although he’s best known for his shot-making the reality is his strengths were on the defensive end of the floor (two-time All-Defense) and his vaunted leadership.

One of my favorite stories about Billups occurred when he was blindsided by a trade to the Denver Nuggets. He walked into the locker room and stated – let’s make one thing clear – I’m here to win a title — if you aren’t on the same page then you have no business being in this room. Notably, I’ve left out a few NSFW words included in his blunt initial message to his new teammates.

Regardless of the literal phrasing, suffice to say the veteran point guard’s message came through loud and clear. The season prior to Billups’ arrival in Denver the club registered a 50-32 record and was bounced in the first round. With Chauncey, the Nuggets went 53-25 (54-28 overall), got to the Western Conference Finals, and pushed the Lakers to six games.

Meanwhile, the Pistons sputtered without their leader. His second term with Detroit lasted six seasons with Detroit reaching the conference finals every year. Twice they moved on to play in the finals winning in 2004 versus the Lakers and losing in seven games to the Spurs in 2005.  However, while Billups brought his new team to a conference finals in 2009, Detroit lost in the first round and failed to return to the postseason for another seven years.

Jonathan Abrams’ brilliant 2012 Grantland article about Billups still resonates to this day. The post will leave you feeling like he’s the best possible choice Sam Presti could make to replace Billy Donovan.

"“I never really wanted to coach in the NBA,” Billups said. “If I coach, I want to coach players that are trying to get somewhere: high school, college. Some of the guys in the NBA, once they make it here, they’re like, ‘I’m here now. I’m good. I did what I needed to do. I don’t need to listen.’”"

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As is often the case, time can bring about a different reality, and in 2020 Billups is now open to coaching. Yet, the part of the quote which should resonate with Thunder fans is the type of team and players the 44-year old would prefer to coach. Not only is OKC in a rebuilding mode which fits Billups’ desires for teaching, but the Thunder youngsters are also hard workers, committed to team over individual, and have great character.

Certainly, for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luguentz Dort, Billups would offer a wealth of knowledge and sage advice.  But, older players would also benefit from the player who spent 17 seasons as a pro and played for four teams in five years prior to finally finding a club in the Pistons who fully recognized his talent and committed to him running the team.

Another of Billups vast talents is the mentorship role he plays to many of the league’s players. Raptors leader Kyle Lowry spent the early portion of his career labeled as difficult and a locker room cancer. Lowry turned to Billups who delivered tough love and mentored the Toronto star. Lowry took his advice and didn’t just see his career take a sharp upturn he’s now considered the heart and soul of the team and will most assuredly be the first to have his jersey hoisted into the rafters.

In some ways, you might say Chauncey Billups and the OKC Thunder would be the perfect marriage of coach and roster.

Now it’s just a matter of Sam Presti pulling off one of his special magician tricks to jettison Billupsot the OKC Thunder before he cements his deal with LA.