Blazers’ Chauncey Billups rewarded with contract extension after .550 stretch

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has agreed on a multiyear contract extension, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. NBA insider Chris Haynes reports the extension includes his option being picked up for next season plus two more years tacked on through 2027-28.

Billups was in the final guaranteed year on his contract and had some question marks about his future with the Blazers, but a strong finish has resulted in this new extension. Portland has a .550 winning percentage since Jan. 19, buoyed by a top-five defense over that span and the massive breakout of Deni Avdija. He had never won more than 33 games before this season, which has seen Portland jump from 21-61 to 35 wins heading into Sunday’s final game. The former Detroit Pistons star 116-211 over four seasons in his first head coaching gig.

This Billups deal comes on the heels of general manager Joe Cronin getting his own contract extension. Cronin came under some fire for how he handled the Damian Lillard trade situation, but now both he and his coach are locked in for the foreseeable future.

Blazers’ surprise turnaround in 2024-25 season

It looked like Chauncey Billups and the Blazers were heading toward another dreadful campaign when they dropped to 13-28 with a 22-point loss to the Houston Rockets on Jan. 18. That’s when things turned around, with Portland winning 10 of 11 games to get within striking distance of a shot at the NBA Play-In Tournament.

While three separate losing streaks of at least four games since that run derailed any postseason dreams, the Blazers are clearly pleased with how things have gone. In addition to Avdija’s breakout, other young players like Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan have shown promise.