Portland Trail Blazers Name Interim Head Coach Following Bombshell Chauncey Billups News
Well, this wasn’t exactly how the Trail Blazers envisioned starting their season. Just days after dropping their opener to Minnesota, Portland finds itself scrambling to fill a coaching void that nobody saw coming—not even the team’s most pessimistic fans.
Splitter Steps Up For the Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers assistant Tiago Splitter will assume head coaching position in the interim in place of Chauncey Billups, sources tell ESPN. Nate Bjorkgren was strongly considered by Portland but decided it was best for the franchise for him to maintain his current role. pic.twitter.com/bUIzHK9XED
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 23, 2025
The news broke Thursday morning like a curveball nobody ordered: Head Coach Chauncey Billups was arrested as part of an FBI gambling investigation. By Thursday afternoon, the organization had made its move, tapping Assistant Coach Tiago Splitter to take over as interim head coach.
Look, the timing couldn’t be worse. The Trail Blazers are trying to find their footing after a tough 118-114 loss to the Timberwolves, and now they’re dealing with a situation that’s about as comfortable as a wooden bench at a playoff game. But credit where it’s due—Portland didn’t waste time making a decision.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Trail Blazers strongly considered assistant Nate Bjorkgren for the interim gig. However, Bjorkgren decided it was best for the franchise if he stayed in his current role. Smart move, honestly. Sometimes the best leadership is knowing when to let someone else steer the ship.
Who Is Tiago Splitter?
For those keeping score at home, Splitter isn’t exactly a household name in coaching circles—yet. The 40-year-old Brazilian is in his first season with the Trail Blazers after an impressive stint leading Paris Basketball to a French league title just four months ago. Not too shabby for someone’s first head coaching job.
Before that championship run in Paris, Splitter cut his teeth on NBA sidelines. He started as a pro scout with the Brooklyn Nets back in 2019, worked his way up to player development coach, then landed an assistant gig with the Houston Rockets in 2023 under Ime Udoka.
But here’s the kicker: Splitter knows what it takes to win at the highest level. He spent seven seasons in the NBA as a player, suiting up for the Spurs, Hawks, and Sixers from 2010 to 2017. And yeah, he’s got the hardware to prove it—an NBA championship ring from 2014 with San Antonio. Playing under Gregg Popovich tends to leave a mark, and that championship pedigree could be exactly what the Trail Blazers need right now.
What’s Next For Portland?
The Trail Blazers don’t have time to feel sorry for themselves. They’re hosting the Golden State Warriors on Friday night, and you can bet the Dubs aren’t going to ease up just because Portland’s dealing with some off-court chaos. Stephen Curry doesn’t care about your problems.
This whole situation puts the Trail Blazers in a weird spot. They are still trying to figure out their identity on the court while dealing with a bombshell that’s sent ripples through the entire organization. Players are professionals, sure, but let’s be real—this kind of distraction doesn’t exactly help when you’re trying to build chemistry and win basketball games.
For Splitter, this is trial by fire. He didn’t sign up to be a head coach when he joined Portland’s staff in June, but sometimes the basketball gods have other plans. The question now is whether his championship experience and international success can translate into steadying a franchise that’s suddenly adrift. One thing’s certain: the Trail Blazers faithful are about to find out what Splitter is really made of. And Portland fans? Well, they’ve seen worse. Probably.
