Indiana Pacers could take a page out of Brooklyn Nets’ book and hire a Hall of Fame guard without coaching experience as their new head coach. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the 2004 NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups emerged as the leading candidate for to replace recently fired Nate McMillan.
Billups, who retired in 2014, doesn’t have coaching experience but has remained involved in basketball working as an analyst. He also had opportunities to work in the front office in the past couple of years, being offered a general manager position with Cleveland Cavaliers, but would reportedly rather be an NBA coach.
Wojnarowski reports that the Pacers want Billups because he fits the mold of their previous coaches like Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas, both NBA champions and known for their leadership qualities.
The contacts between Indiana Pacers and Chauncey Billups are believed to be in the early stages, and the organization is expected to take time evaluating other candidates. Also, the outcome of the talks will most likely depend on in-depth interviews between two sides, which will show whether Billups and Indiana share the same ambitions and philosophy.
In case Billups doesn’t land a job with Pacers, he still might get to have a coaching job next season. Reportedly, Billups has a verbal agreement to join Ty Lue as an assistant if the former Cavaliers’ head coach lands a new coaching gig this summer.
Billups played for seven different teams during his NBA career but saw his biggest successes with Pistons with whom he won the NBA title in 2004. He is also a five-time All-Star and has three All-NBA selections.
