NBA
OTD 2002: Pistons Sign Finals MVP Chauncey Billups
July 17, 2002: Timberwolves backup point guard Chauncy Billups signed with the Detroit Pistons before winning the 2004 NBA Finals MVP
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Chauncey Billups entered the NBA as the Boston Celtics’ third overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft. The start of his career was tough as the Celtics traded him in his first season to the Raptors. Toronto then traded him to the Nuggets, and from there he was traded to Orlando. Signing with the Minnesota Timberwolves in free agency, opinions began labeling Billups a bust. After a breakout 2001-02 season, he was given a chance in Detroit to silence his critics as their starting point guard and flourished in the Motor City.
July 17, 2002: Chauncey Billups signed a 5y/$35M deal with the Detroit #Pistons as a free agent. Billups would lead Detroit to their 3rd championship in franchise history while being named Finals MVP in just his 2nd season with the team in 2004
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) July 17, 2021
pic.twitter.com/MaVetccCvi
DETROIT PISTONS SIGNED FUTURE FINALS MVP PG CHAUNCEY BILLUPS
Detroit signed Billups for $35 million over five years. In their first season together, Detroit earned the top seed going into the playoffs. They made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals before getting knocked off by Jason Kidd’s New Jersey Nets. The very next season, Detroit pulled off one of the biggest upsets in NBA history defeating the Shaq and Kobe Lakers in the Finals to earn their first championship since the Bad Boy era. Billups earned the Finals MVP award, cementing his status as among the league’s elite guards.
Immediately upon signing Billups in 2002, the Detroit Pistons became a legitimate championship contender as the Motor City horses reached six consecutive Eastern Conference Championships, winning two of them, and claiming that coveted Larry O’Brien trophy in 2004. Detroit is still remembered as one of the only modern era teams to win a title without a true superstar with Billups representing the team’s best player despite never averaging 20 PPG over a single season.
July 17, 2002: Chauncey Billups signed a 5y/$35M deal with the Detroit #Pistons as a free agent. Billups would lead Detroit to their 3rd championship in franchise history while being named Finals MVP in just his 2nd season with the team in 2004
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) July 17, 2021
pic.twitter.com/MaVetccCvi
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