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The Portland Trail Blazers have appointed assistant coach Tiago Splitter as the interim head coach, following the suspension of Chauncey Billups, according to reports from Shams Charania.
On Thursday, the NBA revealed that Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier have been placed on immediate administrative leave after their arrests by the FBI, which is part of ongoing federal inquiries into illicit gambling and sports betting activities.
As the investigation progresses, Splitter will step into the head coaching role in Portland. ESPN noted that another assistant, Nate Bjorkgren, was also considered for this position, however, it was ultimately decided that maintaining Bjorkgren in his current role would be more beneficial for the team.
Splitter brings a wealth of experience to this role. After concluding his NBA playing career—where he won the 2014 NBA Championship with the San Antonio Spurs—the Brazilian transitioned into coaching, working as an assistant for the Brooklyn Nets (2019–2023) and the Houston Rockets (2023–24).
He then took the helm at Paris Basketball, where he successfully led the team to the French championship and the EuroLeague Playoffs.
Now, at 40 years old, the former center faces one of the toughest challenges of his nascent coaching career, as he strives to bring stability to a Blazers team dealing with off-court issues while working to ensure the season continues on the right track amid exceptional circumstances.
