Former Detroit Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups is affectionately known around the Motor City as “Mr. Big Shot”. The 2004 NBA Finals MVP and five-time All-Star developed a reputation for clutch shooting and is forever enshrined in Pistons history.
Now, it appears he may be readying for a new gig. According to ESPN’s Chris Haynes, the Atlanta Hawks will be interviewing him for their vacant GM position.
The Hawks are scheduled to interview Chauncey Billups next week for their GM job opening. https://t.co/AnHw8m8xWE
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 21, 2017
“Although he has no prior executive experience, Billups has long been a student of the game in understanding how to navigate within the collective bargaining agreement.”
Billups played 17 years in the NBA and is currently an analyst on ESPN. Of course, his lack of front-office experience would certainly be an interesting hire for a team looking to head in a new direction.
Atlanta’s former GM Wes Wilcox resigned from the position earlier this month. He now serves as the team’s special adviser to ownership. Team principal owner Tony Ressler then spoke of the need to bring in more “firepower” to the franchise.
“I think we as a franchise need more firepower to get to that next level,” he explained after the May front-office shakeup. “And like a lot of other owners, I’m sure, but at least here in Atlanta we’re trying to get to that next level. We get what the objective is, and we thought we needed more firepower to get there.”
Additionally, ESPN reported that Washington Wizards vice president of basketball operations Tommy Sheppard and Golden State Warriors assistant general manager Travis Schlenk were interviewed for the position.
If hired, Billups wouldn’t be the only former Detroit sports legend to enter sports management. Former Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman took the Tampa Bay Lightning general manager position after getting his feet wet in the front office with the Red Wings. Isiah Thomas served as executive vice president for the expansion Toronto Raptors, and later president of basketball operations for the New York Knicks.
Do you think that Mr. Big Shot would be a good general manager for the Atlanta Hawks?
