Chauncey Billups may be ready to get his big shot.
Billups, the Pistons icon who led the “Goin’ to Work” squad to the 2004 championship, is emerging as a candidate to become head coach of the Indiana Pacers, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
“Billups, 43, fits the historical profile of past Pacers coaches Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas: NBA Finals MVPs considered generational leaders of men — who were hired without coaching experience,” Wojnarowski wrote Wednesday.
Although Billups has no experience as a head coach, he could make the jump that many former players have done, including Steve Nash, who was named head coach of the Brooklyn Nets this week.
It’s a shift for Billups, who had been interested in front-office jobs previously, including with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but hasn’t found the right position. Running a team from the bench may be a new avenue to getting back into the game.
Billups still has been close to the league, as a color analyst for ESPN and locally for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Rod.Beard@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @detnewsRodBeard