The Brazilian was chosen to take interim command of the Portland Trail Blazers, following the arrest of Chauncey Billups, team coach and member of the Portland Trail Blazers. accused of involvement in a betting scheme and manipulation of results. The decision was confirmed this Thursday (23) by reporter Shams Charania, from the American ESPN. Splitter, who was one of Billups’ six assistant coaches, was promoted on an interim basis, while another assistant, Nate Bjorkgren, was considered for the position.
Billups was arrested in the United States during an FBI operation, which also detained Miami Heat player Terry Rozier and former Cleveland Cavaliers athlete Damon Jones. According to investigations, the suspects participated in a scheme linked to the mafia, involving manipulation of poker matches and illegal betting.
Splitter, 39 years old, has experience as an assistant coach at the Brooklyn Nets (2019–2023) and the Houston Rockets, before taking charge of Paris Basketball, in France, where he won two national titles — the French league and the French Cup. He left the club in June this year to join the Blazers’ coaching staff and also works as an assistant for the Brazilian men’s team. As a player, Tiago Splitter made NBA history by becoming the first Brazilian champion of the league, in 2014, with the San Antonio Spurs. He also played for the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers, in addition to having built a successful career at Baskonia, in Spain, where he is considered an idol.
*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
