SLAMonline Top 50: Chauncey Billups, no. 25
The definitive ranking of the best players in the NBA today…
AN OPEN LETTER TO MR. CHAUNCEY BILLUPS
Dear Chauncey,
We write this brief note to you in the direst of straits. We didn’t know where else to turn so we 
decided to use this platform to present our message. Please heed these words, we write to you today. Thank you for your consideration.
Chauncey, you were largely introduced to most of the basketball world when you were the third pick in the 1997 NBA Draft, but we already knew all about you. For the decade prior, your name was already legendary around the city of Denver, Colorado. Like other basketball prodigies before you, we heard the stories about Bob Knight and his contemporaries showing up at your junior high practices. We heard the stories of you killing much older kids at the Hiawatha Davis Rec Center up in Park Hill. We heard and believed that you were the next “big thing,” and we were so proud.
You are our state’s greatest prep player, taking home three consecutive Mr. Colorado crowns and two state titles while at George Washington High. Even after you lived up to all of the “mountainous” expectations, you bucked the popular thought when you graced our little collegiate hoops program up in Boulder with your presence for a couple years; even leading them to their first NCAA tourney bid in 28 years.
Hell, even our historically abysmal professional team was able to somehow procure your services for a year and a half, but like many decisions before, (and after) the Nuggets decided to ship you off in a multi-player deal to Orlando because you were injured and hadn’t quite figured out your place in the League. And now, after all of this time, you blossomed into one of the truly great leaders in the NBA.
You give consistency in a league of erratic behavior. You are the steadiest of steady. You have literally scored 16 points and dished out 7 assists every night since you arrived in Motown some six years ago. You have led the Pistons to an NBA title (where you were named the Finals MVP), five Eastern Conference Championship series, all while finding a home for you and your family in Detroit.
But Mr. Big Shot, this is your home and we need a point guard here, badly. It appears our current diminutive guard might be available for a trade and the rumor we hear is that the Pistons are interested. Talk to Joe D. and get back to us.
Come back, we miss you.
With Love,
The State of Colorado
Want more of the SLAMonline Top 50? Check out the archive.
This story is filed under: Blogs, Cub Scouts, NBA, SLAMonline Top 50
“Dear Chauncey…” was awesome…
hehehehehe
if that trade happens, both teams would be worst than today, BUT, Detroit needs AI’s heart ASAP.
im greek too,maybe the older greek on this site
sosta Panagioti??vres ena stathero onoma re file..
Mykal: you may be aussie, but don’t pay out the Greeks mate, or i will label you a putana
@My Kal ..do you know wtf you wrote men??
There is an even smaller somebody reading SLAM longer though….i began with issue 2 (KEMP from the 89′ slam dunk contest)and i used to have all of them in perfect condition …
Money, you missed the best pick up game of 5 on 5 about 15 minutes after you left. Sooo good. Really high quality, best run I’ve been apart of in a few months. Sorry I didnt call you mate.
So…
Billups is still one of the top -5 points in the world (NBA included) along with Deron, CP, Nash and JOSE (in that order). A very smart player with a nice shooting stroke ,the most important element to the second best team of the last 6 years.
Prince=better than Chauncey Eboy? Really?
@Joel O’s- He did hit those free-throws. And a 3 with one minute left in the 4th in one game. But it was 2 years ago, I dont remember that well.
1)Monta- Not a true PG and runs in a system that plays to what he does well. Across the board, Chauncey does a number of things that Monta cannot.
2)Josh- Is this the same inconsistent Josh that was ranked 47? Get his some consistency, and then come talk to me.
3)Rip- I love Rip, but he cannot do things across the board that Chauncey can.
4)Elton- Chauncey has missed only 31 games total over the last 6 seasons. Brand missed all but 8 games last year.
5)Brandon- I’d actually have a hard time arguing against Roy personally and I thought he should be higher on the list. But for the sake of argument, i’d take Chauncey based on consistency, assist-to-TO ratio, top 5 free throw percentage in league last 6 seasons, clutch shooting.
6)West- I also like West and thought he should be higher, but he is undersized and plays a position that is not nearly as important on the floor. Ask David how much easier the game is playing with Paul.
7)Kevin Martin? Really?
Thanks for wishing me luck on the e-mail!
BLong: What’s the difference between an automated machine advertising pills and someone coming in and constantly reminding you he’s updating his blog? If he had a constant flow of readers, it wouldn’t be a problem. Ya hear?
And i don’t feel the need for an immature insult slanging match that you love so much, because it’s too late over here right now to stay online, and i ain’t going to bring myself down to your level. So if you email Ryne about it I am happy for him to contact me about your issues, as i will explain to him how you got it all wrong.
http://www.milkandcookies.com/link/2536/detail/
Have fun with my link when it gets out of moderation too. Hursty out.
Hursty: Your blog sucks.
http://www.kubiaktohold.blogspot.com
http://www.blakestreetbias.blogspot.com
Flux: If you need motivation by the time you get to the Finals, then you don’t desrve to win. There is nothing ‘tainted’ about that. The Pistons wanted it more. Bottom line. No need to apologize for that.
LenDale did own the state rushing record, before current CSU Ram back, Kyle Bell broke it from a small school in the plains.
Chauncey is possibly the best, ever, with a possible nod to Manual’s Chucky Sproling. 73 in a game before the 3-point line!
Unlike FLUX though, I don’t take anything away from the Pistons beating that juggernaut of a team.
Knew you’d love that Johnnies reference. Misery for us Broncos’ fans today.
*I wouldn’t normally make a golf analogy but as it’s a Cub post,I feel it’s safe.
i didn’t watch the Tour Champ this weekend.
I wonder why.
It had nothing to do with my sour, semi-drunk attitude following that debacle at Arrowhead.
The Suns series is different. All four wins were total BS to me. I don’t acknowledge the Suns as a championship team, but I only acknowledge the Spurs as winning three championships.
Ciolkstar wrote something scaving at me. I didn’t even mention his name in this comment section until he posted. I ignored about three posts by him before I responded.
I expect an apologie or else I’ll cry.
You know… now that we’re down halfway… I’m a little bit confused here… I had Chauncy as my number 20. So, I’m wondering who are these five people who have edged ahead of Chauncy?
There are clearly going to be 19 people ahead of him: The Mamba, DWade, Timmy D, KG, Howitzer, Gil, Bron Bron, The Answer, DWill, Nashty, CB3, The Great Wall, STAT, the Truth, T-Mac, The Boshinator, The Flying Dutchman, Boom Dizzle, Booz and…. uh… Carmello Anthony… who has no nickname, does he?
Anyway, who are the other five who are going to be ahead of Chauncy?
Parker? Ginobli? Stephon Jackson? Richardson? Gay? Gerald Wallace? Shawn Marion? I don’t know if any of them are better or more valuble than Chauncy. Anyone who DOESN’T know the list ahead of time care to conjecture?
1. Chris Bosh (sorry flux)
2. Carlos Boozer
3. Kobe Bryant
4. Caron Butler
5. Carmelo Anthony
6. Baron Davis
7. Tim Duncan
8. Kevin Garnett
9. Rudy Gay
10. Danny Granger
11. Dwight Howard
12. Allen Iverson
13. LeBron James
14. Shawn Marion
15. Tracy McGrady
16. Steve Nash
17. Dirk Nowitzki
18. Chris Paul
19. Paul Pierce
20. Jason Richardon
21. Armae Stoudemire
22. Dwyane Wade
23. Deron Williams
24. Yao Ming
Scott: Danny Granger will not be on this list. Mark my words.
Billups: 19.7 ppg, 5.8 apg; Nash: 19.1 ppg, 9.2 apg BILLUPS VS JASON KIDD (13-6)
Billups: 17.3 ppg, 6.9 apg; Kidd: 12.8 ppg, 8.3 apg BILLUPS VS CHRIS PAUL (4-1)
Billups: 20.8 ppg, 7.6 apg; Paul: 17.0 ppg, 9.8 apg BILLUPS VS DERON WILLIAMS (0-6)
Billups: 19.2 ppg, 5.8 apg; Williams: 18.8 ppg, 9.2 apg BILLUPS VS BARON DAVIS (7-5)
Billups: 16.3 ppg, 4.2 apg; Davis: 14.5 ppg, 7.3 apg Just thought I’d throw it out there…
next…
Comments