HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS – The true measure of a leader can be measured in both words and actions. And in Chauncey Billups, the Los Angeles Clippers have a leader who influences younger players on his own team as well as others.
In fact, words from Billups appear to have had significant influence on strengthening the case for one the Clippers’ Western Conference rivals where a certain free agent was concerned earlier this summer.
O.J. Mayo relied on advice from Billups when making his decision about signing with the Dallas Mavericks, a move that helped the Mavericks complete one of the better offseasons in the league.
Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com provides the details, which include a rousing endorsement from Billups of his former coach in Detroit and current Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle:
“He said (Carlisle) is a great coach for me to help expand my game,” Mayo said.
Billups, like Mayo now, was a No. 3 overall pick in his mid-20s who hadn’t lived up high-lottery expectations when he signed with the Carlisle-coached Pistons in the summer of 2002. Detroit was Billups’ fifth NBA team, and while he showed promise as a part-time starter the previous season in Minnesota, he had yet to prove he could be a premier point guard.
Carlisle gave Billups that opportunity in 2002-03, when he started for a 50-win team that advanced to the conference finals. That was the only season Carlisle coached Billups, but Billups gives Carlisle credit for helping him become a five-time All-Star and NBA champion who is now known as Mr. Big Shot.
Mayo hasn’t bounced around the league, having spent his entire four-year career with the Memphis Grizzlies, but he has a lot of similarities to the 2002 version of Billups. Mayo is a No. 3 overall pick whose career hasn’t progressed as anticipated.
Billups’ advice to Mayo: Let Carlisle coach you.
That’s exactly what Mayo has done. He arrived in Dallas a month ago specifically so he could work with Carlisle.
Mayo usually works on one specific weakness each summer. He’s worked on whatever Carlisle wanted recently.
“My whole thing is to give my game to Coach and let him help me get better in ways I can help the team,” Mayo said.
Mayo’s maturation process over the past couple of seasons has been steady. And there is no reason to believe that he won’t continue that ascent in Dallas, where he’ll be working alongside quality veteran players and playing for one of the best coaches in the game, but also in an organization that has developed an undeniable winning culture over the past decade 12 years.
But most impressive, from our perspective, is the way Billups advocated for his former coach. Carlisle and Billups only had one season together but it was clearly a career-altering experience for the veteran point guard.
If Mayo is on a similar trajectory at this stage of his career, then the relationship between the Mavericks and the young guard could indeed be a fruitful one for all involved.
I wonder if The Clippers are going to reward Billups for helping their rival Mav’s? lol
I bet billups got some money from the mavs for helping them with mayo
maybe billups wants to wear the uniform of dallas.
how much do you want to bet idiot?
Mayo’s the missing piece for mavs to be 4th or 5th in west (probably behind OKC LAL and SAS or LAC) no way the grizz can beat my mavs. If they faced SAS in the 1st round they have the chance to go to conf semis. The only team they cant beat is OKC. LAL and LAC we’ll see about that.
Dirk will still be dirk and they are still a fully loaded team. Im still waiting for beaubois to be the wade of the mavs. This team is like the championship team last 2 years and i hope if they developed as a team the west will be their crown again.
SA will be the ONLY team “your” mavies CAN’T beat!!
Wait isn’t billups only a one time champion not two?
but Billups gives Carlisle credit for helping him become a five-time All-Star and NBA champion who is now known as Mr. Big Shot.
where does it say 2 time champion?
The article was edited to correct that. The preview in the e-mail I received said two-time NBA Champion and I also thought….WTH? lol
Doesn’t billups only have 1 Campionship?
“…Billups gives Carlisle credit for helping him become a five-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion…”
Not to take anything away from Chauncey who is such a fantastic player and veteran presence – I’ll never forget how he smothered Chris Paul during the 2009 playoffs with Denver – but I really don’t see him being a TWO-time champion!
I guess he thinks detroit beating the fantastic four lakers worth 2 chips!
I think it says that he was a 5 time all star and a NBA champion. I don’t see where it indicates multiple championships
Mayo could turn out great for Dallas. Also I think this is the first time a USC and UCLA point will play together in the NBA.
daren and oj interesting back court
THANKS HKahlon! & defdun EXACTLY NOT 2ND CHAMPION SHIP YET…AND HE DEFINITELY KILLED CHRIS PAUL INA PLAYOFFS WEN MR.BIG SHOT WAS PLAYING FOR DENVER NUGGETS* CHAUNCEY BILLUPS ALWAYS HAVE BEEN UNDERRATED AND ITS REAL SAD
WE ALL KNOW HE STARTED OFF KINDA SAD BUT AFTER COUPLE YRS HE BECAME THE REALLL SMOOOTH IN THE NBA! HE’S THE KING OF DENVER GUYS I DON’T THINK Le BRON JAMES IS THE KING OF JUST THAT LITTLE CLEVELAND ANYMORE…lolll AS WE ALL KNOW! BUT WISH CHAUNCEY BILLUPS/SMOOOTH/MR.BIG SHOT THE BEST FOR THE REST OF HIS SEASONS/CAREER! GO CHAUNCEY! THE TRUE LEADER! THE TRUE CHAMP AND THE TRUE MVP 4 EVA!
It Clearly says “NBA champion”…Therefore, a ONE Time champion. lol.
it says 5 time all star and nba champion
it clearly says nba champion maybe you should read again
Oh for crying out loud, originally Sekou wrote that Billups was a 2 time NBA Champion because no one proof-reads his blog besides us readers. So when a few people posted his mistake, Sekou edited his blog.
But I feel for you, it must be hard to be slowed down every day by oneself.
Eastern conference champ 05 and 04FINALS!
i’ts a great opportunity for mayo to prove that he is ready to be great, with jason terry gone to boston, o.j. mayo is the second option for the mavericks…to develop more skill and gain more experience…
Carlisle credit for helping him become a five-time All-Star and NBA champion who is now known as Mr. Big Shot.
PAY ATTENTION MORONS.
they are the morons? sekou edited his article.
maybe youre the moron
cant you read? sekou edited his blog after all the comments.. what are u using snail mail?!
Dallas newly and fully loaded with young talent,
their going to have great season,
but lookout for the Lakers their coming in full steam!!!
OJ mayo OJMAYO OJ MAYO IM CRAZY DUMB
Cuban keeps saying the Lakers will have chemsitry problems so dont count on them…
Isnt his team the one that has almost ALL new players except for Dirk And Matrix basically? So the Lakers will have problems not the Mavs? I love Cuban but he needs to learn there are times when he needs to shut up. He barely spoke in 2011 and what happened? GOLD!
i withe this comment section had a like button,
“I love Cuban but he needs to learn there are times when he needs to shut up. He barely spoke in 2011 and what happened? GOLD!”
Priceless lol
Mark Cuban when silent is a poet.
Reasons to pretty much everything you might have found out about youtube trx workouts is simply entirely wrong and what you want to know.