Few players have ever gone from being considered a complete bust to superstar status, but that’s exactly what Chauncey Billups did. The 4th overall pick struggled to find his role in the NBA only to find it late in his career and help turn a franchise into a NBA champion. Billups enjoyed a solid career at Colorado. He was all-first team Big-12 and lead the Buffaloes to the tournament in 1997. He played only two seasons at Colorado before going pro owning an 18 points per game average along with 6 rebounds and 5 assists. He was selected by the Boston Celtics with the 4th overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft. For some reason he was almost immediately considered a bust despite putting up solid numbers for the first few years of his career.

His time with the Denver Nuggets is likely where the notion of him being a bust originated. He struggled with the Nuggets and had injury problems. His first year there he played only 45 games but did average 14 points a game. The next season he played in only 13 games before being traded to the Orlando Magic. He never played a game for the Magic.

In the off-season he signed a two year deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves to back up Terrell Brandon. His first year with the Wolves he did that, but the second year Brandon had injury problems and Billups became the starter. His tenure as starting point guard for the Wolves impressed many teams and he was a sought after free agent.

The Detroit Pistons signed Billups and at the time it looked like a good signing but would turn out to be one of the best free agent signings of the decade. Billups immediately turned the Pistons and his career around. In his first year with the Pistons he helped them reach the first of five consecutive Eastern Conference Finals.

Despite his success Billups was still an unknown in the NBA, but that would all change in 2004. He helped the Pistons reach the NBA finals against the highly talented LA Lakers. The Pistons stunned the Lakers in 5 games to win the NBA title and Billups was named MVP. From than on Billups would be considered a top NBA talent.

The following season he finally made the all-star team and the Pistons made the finals again but lost to the Spurs in 7 games. The Pistons would continue to make the Eastern Finals with some regularity with Billups on the team. He would make 3 of his 5 all-star appearances as a member of the Detroit Pistons.

After six seasons with the Pistons they traded him to the Denver Nuggets in a cost cutting move for Allen Iverson. The trade would be dramatic for both teams. The Piston struggled just to make the playoffs and the Nuggets seen their greatest success since the early 1980s. The Nuggets would make the Western Finals and give the eventual champion Lakers a run for their money.

Billups set a career high in points per game in the 2009-10 season with 20 points per game, but the Nuggets season which looked so promising ended quickly at the hands of the Utah Jazz who defeated the Nuggets in 5 games.

In 910 career games Billups owns averages of 15 points, 6 assists and 3 rebounds. He is still a major part of the Denver Nuggets future success though he is getting older and many expect him to start slowing down.

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