Denver's very own Chauncey Billups reached yet another milestone last Sunday; this time, it was the ultimate achievement for an athlete: enshrinement into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Picked third overall in the 1997 NBA Draft, Billups's pro career started with the Boston Celtics. He played for seven different teams in his 17 years on the court, and it took time for his career to blossom. But the highlight of his career came with the Detroit Pistons, where he won an NBA championship and was named Finals MVP in 2004.

"I could go on forever about what Detroit means to me, but I will just say this: It was in Detroit where I became an NBA Champion; it was in Detroit where I became "Mr. Big Shot"; it was in Detroit where I finally became an All-Star; it was in Detroit where I became known as a winner, which is all I ever wanted; and it was in Detroit where that No. 1 jersey is hanging in the rafters," Billups said in his acceptance speech. 

Billups was named Finals MVP in his championship year after averaging 21 points, 5.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. He shot 50.1% from the field and 47.1% on three-pointers.

Billups was an outstanding athlete starting his first year at George Washington High School, where he started on the varsity team in 1995. At G.W., he was a four-time All-State first-team pick, Colorado Mr. Basketball three times, and Colorado Player of the Year as a sophomore and junior. He stayed close to home for college, playing with the C.U. Buffs. He averaged 18.5 points, 5.1 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game over his two seasons with the Buffalos.

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