The narrative around [Portland Trail Blazers](https://www.blazersedge.com) Head Coach Chauncey Billups is changing. Now in his fourth season in charge of Blazers, Billups has led his team to 31 wins in 70 games this season. That’s good enough to start generating buzz about a contract extension with the team.
After seasons of 55, 49 and 61 losses, it was widely assumed that Billups would coach this season, the final guaranteed year of his contract, before gently being shown the door. However, with the Blazers challenging for a play-in spot and demonstrating real growth from their best young players, that assumption is being questioned. Portland has a team option on Billups next season. That option could be picked up or the Blazers could offer a new contract extending beyond the 2025-2026 season.
Long-time Portland sportswriter Kerry Eggers has firmly put himself in the camp of those who think Billups has earned a contract extension. [In an article on his website kerryeggers.com](https://www.kerryeggers.com/stories/blazer-players-have-developed-but-their-coach-has-too), Eggers makes the case, including many quotes from Billups himself in the process.
Eggers reviews the host of challenges that Billups faced in his first season, such as the firing of former Blazers General Manager Neil Olshey, an injury to superstar Damian Lillard, and the trade of high-scoring guard CJ McCollum. A team that with veterans, expected to make the playoffs, was thrust into rebuilding mode, a situation that continues to this day. Eggers writes:
> Funny thing, though. Billups — 81-165 in his first three seasons as head coach — figured it was time to forget the future and chose to play for now. He was beginning the final year of his contract, with a team option for 2025-26, and ownership/management had declined to give him an extension during the offseason. Billups, now 48, was a company man, but he was coaching for his future, too.
Billups had assistance. Players like Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara were brought in to be part of a future competitive team, but they’ve had a strong positive impact on the present as well.
Eggers quotes Billups detailing how he has grown as the roster has changed:
> “I am so much more knowledgeable about the league, the players, how I like to play, how I like to coach,” he said. “The roster has changed a ton since I started here. What most people don’t understand, every time your roster changes, so do you. There is different talent, and you have to find different ways to play. As a coach in this league, you don’t really have a system. A system is whatever players you have, and you try to figure that out. You have to change every single time. Having had to change so much has helped me grow.”
The question now is whether Billups is the right person to coach the Blazers after this season. If Blazers’ management knows what they want to do it’s a well-kept secret, even from Billups.
> “We haven’t spoken about it,” Billups said. “When the season is completed, I am sure we will. For now, I am more focused on continuing to enhance my skills and to enhance my guys.”
Billups makes it clear that he wants to stay on the job, and Eggers supports that notion.
> I have seen enough from Billups this season to suggest that a two-year extension added to the option year would make sense. He has his players’ attention and respect. Billups could use a bell cow — a veteran marquee player who could front the promising youngsters and turn a good group into a great one — but there are only so many Nikola Jokics and Shai Gilgeous-Alexanders out there.
We should know what Blazers’ management is going to do shortly after the Blazers’ season ends. If they want to move on from Billups they’ll likely make the move after the last game is played. If they wish to pick up the option or offer a new contract, that news will probably become public fairly quickly too, even if there are details to work out.
Do you agree with Eggers? Has Billups earned more time in charge? Make your case in the comment section below.