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Trail Blazers name former player their interim head coach

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated Oct 23, 2025 1:58 PM ET

The Portland Trail Blazers have decided who will be their interim head coach now that Chauncey Billups is facing criminal charges.

The Blazers have named Tiago Splitter their interim head coach. Splitter, 40, played in the NBA from 2010-2017, most notably with the San Antonio Spurs. Splitter went into coaching in 2019. He was an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets, Houston Rockets, and he joined Billups’ staff in Portland in June. Splitter has head coaching experience in Europe. Last season, he led Paris Basketball to a championship in France and won the French Cup.

Though Portland decided to make Splitter their interim coach, they also considered assistant coach Nate Bjorkgren for the role. Bjorkgren has experience as an NBA assistant coach with the Suns, Raptors, Pacers and Blazers. He served as the head coach of the Pacers in the 2020-2021 season and went 34-38.

Portland Trail Blazers assistant Tiago Splitter will assume head coaching position in the interim in place of Chauncey Billups, sources tell ESPN. Nate Bjorkgren was strongly considered by Portland but decided it was best for the franchise for him to maintain his current role. pic.twitter.com/bUIzHK9XED
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 23, 2025

Splitter was a professional in Spain prior to beginning his NBA career in 2010. The 6-foot-11, 245-pound big man was the Spanish League MVP as a player prior to coming to the NBA. He is the first Brazilian head coach in the NBA.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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