Chauncey Billups candidate for Indiana Pacers head coaching job

First reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Colorado Buffaloes legend Chauncey Billups has emerged as a contender for the Indiana Pacers’ head coaching position.

This comes as a surprise because Billups has never coached before, nor has he been connected to previous coach searches. The closest he came to an NBA position was when the Cleveland Cavaliers — with LeBron James still in town — offered him their general manager position.

Since retiring from basketball in 2014, Billups has enjoyed a successful career as a television personality, first as a studio analyst on ESPN’s NBA Countdown, and now as a play-by-play commentator for the L.A. Clippers.

Billups was revered for his leadership during his playing days, so a move into coaching may be a natural transition for him. As for the lack of experience, cerebral point guards do not always have to climb the coaching ladder. Former players such as Doc Rivers and Mark Jackson never coached before being hired as head coaches, nor did Steve Nash, whom the Brooklyn Nets just last week.

Billups is also competing with Dave Joerger, formerly of the Grizzlies and Kings, and Becky Hammon, the former Colorado State star who would become the first woman head coach.