My hot take - Billups is the 3rd best PG all time

[Wigginstime]

My hot take - Billups is the 3rd best PG all time - tell me why I’m wrong

Billups isn’t on most lists of top 10pgs. I hate how under appreciate he is. Stats aside here are my biggest decision makers

1. Billups destroyed MVP candidate prime Chris Paul in 2009 playoffs. He put up 23ppg on 74% TS while holding Paul to 16ppg on 50% TS.

2. Billlups for Iverson tanked Detroit and elevated Denver to contender status.

3Billups destroyed Parker in 2005 finals

4. Billups destroyed Kidd in the 2004 playoffs. He has massive game 5 and 7 performances and held Kidd scoreless in game 7.

5. This

Watch on YouTube

[NZB2323]

Billups is definitely underrated, but I can’t put him above Magic, Oscar, or Curry.

It’s funny we have a narrative that Isiah Thomas beat Magic, Bird, and Jordan, but don’t have a narrative that Billups beat Shaq, Kobe, LeBron, and Dirk.

[Black Jack]

Clearly better: Magic, Oscar Curry, Stockton, West, Kidd, Nash, Isiah

One win over Kidd doesn't make Billups better

That said I am intrigued by the concept and willing to hear more

[chilluminati]

He's my favorite player of all time, but this take is hot. SIZZLING. I do agree with all of your points though, Billups was absolutely elite and won most of his matchups for the better part of a decade. Had MVP votes multiple years.

I only say it's hot because of the fact that 3rd all time is very generous, but I do like the way you think.

[LeBronSpaghetti]

Respectfully, this is a crazy take.

[HMFFL]

Chauncey Billups learned so much from Rick Carlisle in 02-03. Pistons won the next year under Larry Brown.

I can't imagine ranking CB in the top 3 all-time but he was underrated.

[JustBuzzin]

Respectfully, this is a crazy take.

Respectfully you are being nice.

This take is just false and flat out disrespectful to the history of basketball.

OP is ragebaiting

[MrGoat]

Billups was underrated but that's a scorching hot take

[picc]

He wasn't even the third best PG in his prime years.

As overrated as his "Big Shot" reputation.

[Tim Kempton]

[NZB2323]

Clearly better: Magic, Oscar Curry, Stockton, West, Kidd, Nash, Isiah

One win over Kidd doesn't make Billups better

That said I am intrigued by the concept and willing to hear more

What makes Isiah Thomas “clearly better?” If Robert Horry misses a shot, Billups has the same number of championships.

Isiah Thomas averaged 18, 8, and 4, 48.1 TS%, 18.6 PER in the playoffs for his first championship.

As for career totals:

Billups: 120.8 WS, .176 WS/48, 3.2 BPM, 43.5 VORP
Thomas: 80.7 WS, .109 WS/48, 2.6 BPM, 41.6 VORP

[M2J]

Does OP have a pod that needs clicks or something? Horrid take... He was never even the best player on his team

[tmorgan]

Does OP have a pod that needs clicks or something? Horrid take... He was never even the best player on his team

Billups 3rd ATPG is over the top, but this is flat out false.

Billups was the most important player on every contending Pistons team he was part of. I don’t know what “best” is supposed to mean, but Chauncey easily made the biggest difference on the court.

Extremely efficient scorer at medium volume. Prolific free throw draw rate and conversion rate (89.4% career), very good three point shooter (38.7% career). His career TS+ is 109, an extremely impressive number for a point guard (for reference, Chris Paul is at 106). Game manager as a passer, never big assist numbers but always low turnovers. Very good defender against all but ultra-quick players, but smart enough to guide the speed demons into his strong help. Post game against smaller opponents.

In Detroit, he was the guy who got them into sets, calmed things down when needed, could never be left open, and punished switches. Rip was the leading scorer, Ben was the defensive anchor, Sheed was the emotional energy, and Tay was the glue, but Billups was indisputably the most important player. Anyone who thinks otherwise didn’t follow the team.

[Masigond]

His time with the Pistons was great, then another two great seasons with the Nuggets. The problem is that other than that his career wasn't astounding, and there are so many ATG PGs who had great careers from start to finish. Also arguably better peaks and better/longer primes.

So I don't see any argument for Billups being ranked that high, but he was great and carved out a deserving Hall-of-Fame career.

I'd rank at least Magic, Stockton, Robertson, Curry, Kidd, Nash, and Payton above him.

[bonita_the_frog]

His nickname is Mr Big Shot and Smooth so guess he is known for being hot already-
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/billuch01.html

[M2J]

Does OP have a pod that needs clicks or something? Horrid take... He was never even the best player on his team

Billups 3rd ATPG is over the top, but this is flat out false.

Billups was the most important player on every contending Pistons team he was part of. I don’t know what “best” is supposed to mean, but Chauncey easily made the biggest difference on the court.

Extremely efficient scorer at medium volume. Prolific free throw draw rate and conversion rate (89.4% career), very good three point shooter (38.7% career). His career TS+ is 109, an extremely impressive number for a point guard (for reference, Chris Paul is at 106). Game manager as a passer, never big assist numbers but always low turnovers. Very good defender against all but ultra-quick players, but smart enough to guide the speed demons into his strong help. Post game against smaller opponents.

In Detroit, he was the guy who got them into sets, calmed things down when needed, could never be left open, and punished switches. Rip was the leading scorer, Ben was the defensive anchor, Sheed was the emotional energy, and Tay was the glue, but Billups was indisputably the most important player. Anyone who thinks otherwise didn’t follow the team.

Billups was their weakest defender, not really a good point of attack defender. His teammates laughed when he made all defensive teams. Inefficient chucker that often relied on others to create offense. Got his shots on quick pull up transition and offense generated by teammates gravity. Not a great playmaker.

Don't even want to trash the guy, but like I said was never the best player on his team. Best means best... It's not a difficult definition.

[SpreeS]

3rd is totally bulls..., but he underrated a lot. These are better w/o questions Curry/Osacr/West/Magic. Also I would add Paul to this group.

Stockton/Frazier/Nash/Westbrook/Thomas/Payton/Kidd

Billups could have the shortest prime from these players, but if I have to pick point guard for my contending team, it would be Frazier/Billups type guard

BBIQ/size/defence/scoring/efficiency/posability to play on and off ball/shooting/playmaking - this skills set is directly way to winning. And i don't care that these skills aren't on alltime elite level, but as a group it makes elite/winning player.

[Ito]

A good top 25, but debatable in the top 15-20 depending on the team he wouldn’t be a liability and would be a better fit any where more likely than a more talented player

[gavran]

Cold take: he is not.

[DC_Melo]

Does OP have a pod that needs clicks or something? Horrid take... He was never even the best player on his team

Billups 3rd ATPG is over the top, but this is flat out false.

Billups was the most important player on every contending Pistons team he was part of. I don’t know what “best” is supposed to mean, but Chauncey easily made the biggest difference on the court.

Extremely efficient scorer at medium volume. Prolific free throw draw rate and conversion rate (89.4% career), very good three point shooter (38.7% career). His career TS+ is 109, an extremely impressive number for a point guard (for reference, Chris Paul is at 106). Game manager as a passer, never big assist numbers but always low turnovers. Very good defender against all but ultra-quick players, but smart enough to guide the speed demons into his strong help. Post game against smaller opponents.

In Detroit, he was the guy who got them into sets, calmed things down when needed, could never be left open, and punished switches. Rip was the leading scorer, Ben was the defensive anchor, Sheed was the emotional energy, and Tay was the glue, but Billups was indisputably the most important player. Anyone who thinks otherwise didn’t follow the team.

Billups was their weakest defender, not really a good point of attack defender. His teammates laughed when he made all defensive teams. Inefficient chucker that often relied on others to create offense. Got his shots on quick pull up transition and offense generated by teammates gravity. Not a great playmaker.

Don't even want to trash the guy, but like I said was never the best player on his team. Best means best... It's not a difficult definition.

It’s hard to say who the best player on that team was because each of the starters made such great contributions… I’ve heard plenty argue for Billups, plenty for the Wallace’s, and even a few for Rip. So I get disagreeing about him being the best on the Pistons, and no way is he 3atgpg… but hold on…

1. Chauncey was his team’s weakest defender? That take is wilder than OP’s.
2. His teammates laughed when he made all defensive teams? Is there a source for this?

When you make up stuff like this it feels like you are trying to trash the guy.