Tiago Splitter has been named interim head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers following the arrest of Chauncey Billups. The official announcement was made on Thursday, October 24, 2025. Billups was taken into custody as part of a federal investigation related to illegal betting activities.
Blazers’ Reaction to the Situation
The Trail Blazers expressed their commitment to cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation. In a statement, they confirmed Billups’ immediate leave from his coaching role, emphasizing their awareness of the serious allegations against him.
Tiago Splitter’s Coaching Background
Splitter, who is 40 years old, has a rich coaching history. Before joining the Blazers, he was an assistant coach with two franchises over five seasons. He spent the previous year as the head coach of Paris Basketball, where he achieved significant success.
Career Highlights
- Played in the NBA from 2010 to 2017.
- Won an NBA championship in 2014 with the San Antonio Spurs.
- Served as an assistant coach for the Brooklyn Nets from 2018 to 2023.
- Coached Paris Basketball to victories in the French championship and French Cup.
- Assisted the Brazilian national basketball team.
Tiago Splitter played as a center and is noted for contributing to the Spurs’ success in a championship series against the Miami Heat. After retiring in 2018, he transitioned into coaching, initially as a player-development scout for the Nets.
Looking Forward
As Splitter takes on the role of interim head coach, the Blazers will focus on maintaining team morale during this challenging time. Fans and analysts will be keen to see how Splitter’s leadership will influence the team’s performance moving forward.
