Should Blazers Give Head Coach Chauncey Billups New Contract Extension?

Billups has been with Portland for four seasons.

Feb 6, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups reacts to a foul called against Portland during the second half in a game against the Sacramento Kings at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images / Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, a Hall of Fame point guard during his playing days, is in the midst of his fourth season with the team.

More Portland Trail Blazers: Blazers Called Out for 'Bonkers' Decision to Make Zero Deadline Trades

Prior to starting center Deandre Ayton being ruled out for a month with a left calf strain (per a Portland press release), the team was looking shockingly competitive. The Trail Blazers had gone on a stellar run starting in mid-January, winning 10 of 11 games to claw their way into the periphery of the Western Conference playoff race.

Still, fans seemed less than interested in giving Billups too much credit for his contributions.

all this winning is great but this better not end up in a chauncey billups extension

— covi. 🎈 (@ayocovi) February 4, 2025

Other fans had similar sentiments on X about giving Billups too much credit.

Blazers had a fake 10 game stretch so Joe Cronin made zero trades, kept the vets for a second season, and threw away a lottery pick in a generational draft.

Time for 10 more years of purgatory.

Oh, and we’re resigning Chauncey Billups for 3 more years pic.twitter.com/0VsuPUmjmS

— Kash (@KashEra0) February 11, 2025

Portland has gone 105-197 during its three seasons-and-change under Billups, although even by the end of its two Damian Lillard-era seasons, the team was pretty openly trying to tank.

More Portland Trail Blazers: Blazers Sign New Guard Following Inactive Trade Deadline

Now, the club has lost three games in a row heading into this weekend's All-Star break, all by double digits. Ayton got hurt in the first half of the Trail Blazers' first clash with the Denver Nuggets this week, and hasn't been back since.

Per Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian, Billups at least wants to continue leading the team to its next era of playoff contention. He is currently something of a lame-duck coach, as he is currently in the final guaranteed season of contract with the team.

Has Chauncey Billups coached his way into a new contract?

The Blazers' rebuild has shown positive signs this season, but their coach isn't guaranteed to be around to lead the process?

"I definitely want to see it through." - Billups#RipCity https://t.co/aF5CH3MNuG

— Aaron J. Fentress (@AaronJFentress) February 13, 2025

“A thousand percent, I definitely want to see it through,” Billups said of remaining with the club beyond the 2024-25 season. “It’s taken a whole lot to get to this point and I would hate to not be able to continue to lead this thing. But it’s not my decision.”

To his credit, Billups has helped improve the play of several young pieces during his tenure. The development of forward Toumani Camara, an unheralded late second-round pick in 2023-24, is perhaps the biggest feather in his cap. Shooting guard Shaedon Sharpe, center Donovan Clingan, and forward Deni Avdija have all notably improved under his stewardship, too.

“Me personally, I definitely think that I’ve done enough,” Billups said. “But I’m also not about to petition for that. I’m not gonna do that. I feel like I’ve done enough. I feel like I’ve developed a ton myself, which needed to happen.”

More Portland Trail Blazers:

General Manager Joe Cronin Reveals Blazers Were Close on 'Few' Trades Before Deadline Expired

One-Time Blazers Guard Could Reportedly Become Prime Buyout Market Candidate

For the latest Portland Trail Blazers news and notes, stay glued to Trail Blazers On SI.