The Portland Trail Blazers have named Tiago Splitter as interim head coach following the arrest of Chauncey Billups on Thursday morning, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Billups was taken into custody in Portland as part of an FBI-led sports betting and gambling investigation that also resulted in the arrest of Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier. The FBI’s probe, directed by the Eastern District of New York, has been ongoing for several months and is expected to result in additional arrests.
Charania reported that Splitter, previously an assistant on Billups’ staff, will take over head coaching duties on an interim basis. Portland also considered Nate Bjorkgren for the role, but the organization decided it was in the team’s best interest for him to remain in his current position.
Splitter, 40, brings a wealth of experience as both a former NBA champion and a successful coach overseas. Before joining Portland this season, he served as an assistant with the Brooklyn Nets (2019–2023) and Houston Rockets (2023–24). He then moved to France to coach Paris Basketball, where he captured both the LNB Élite title and French Cup in 2025.
As a player, Splitter enjoyed a decorated career spanning nearly two decades. He won an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014, earned All-EuroLeague honors, and was named Liga ACB MVP and Finals MVP in 2010 during his time with Baskonia.
Now, he faces a challenging situation in Portland. Splitter’s promotion marks his first opportunity as an NBA head coach, arriving under highly unusual circumstances.
