Clippers Coach Lue Affirms Support for Blazers' Billups Amid Federal Betting Investigation

Tyronn Lue, head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, has spoken about his longtime friend and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, who was recently arrested as part of a federal investigation into illegal sports betting and rigged poker games. Lue expressed his belief in Billups' character and shared that Billups remains confident and positive about the situation despite the serious allegations. Billups has been placed on leave by the Trail Blazers, who have appointed Tiago Splitter as interim head coach. Lue, who has known Billups since he was 17 and is the godfather to Billups' daughters, described the emotional difficulty of the situation for Billups and his family, but emphasized that hearing Billups' voice reassured him that Billups is doing okay. While Lue highlighted Billups' usual upbeat and respected nature, reports from court appearances showed a more somber and emotionless demeanor, underscoring the gravity of the case. The NBA community continues to watch closely as the investigation unfolds and Billups navigates the legal challenges ahead.