Tuesday, February 7th, 2012 at 9:00 am  |  74 responses

Chauncey Billups Out for the Season With Torn Achilles Tendon


by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

UPDATE: As expected, the Los Angeles Clippers confirmed that Chauncey Billups’ season is over. Terrible news. Per the team website:

“Los Angeles Clippers guard Chauncey Billups suffered a torn left Achilles tendon in last night’s 107-102 Clippers’ win in Orlando. The injury, which occurred with 5:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, will sideline Billups for the remainder of the 2011-12 NBA season. Billups underwent an MRI today at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio which confirmed the injury. He will return to Los Angeles on Thursday for further evaluation. A date for surgery is yet to be determined.”

The Los Angeles Clippers’ thrilling overtime victory over the Orlando Magic last night was dampened by concerns that Chauncey Billups may be done for the year.

The veteran guard suffered a left Achilles’ tendon injury midway through the fourth quarter, which many in the Clipper organization feared had been ruptured.

Understandably, there was a feeling of devastation within the locker room, as it quickly dawned on players and coaches just how big a blow the Chauncey Billups injury is.

From Hoopsworld and the LA Times:

Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro would not offer many details, except to confirm that it was an Achilles injury. “He’s going to be re-evaluated,” Del Negro said. “He’s got an Achilles injury. I don’t know the severity of it, but it’s kind of bittersweet. We will see what happens but we will re-evaluate it tomorrow.” Many of Billups’ teammates commented in the locker room that their point guard was “done,” hinting that the Achilles was more than a strain and was, in fact, a full tear. Billups left the locker room with his foot in a boot, walked with the aid of crutches … One of the Clippers coaches commented under his breath that losing Billups was “a damn shame.”

[...]

“It felt like somebody kicked me, man,” Billups said after the game as he made his way to the team bus with crutches under both arms and a walking boot on his foot. “I don’t know if it’s torn, but I know it’s not good.” There was a hush in the Clippers’ locker room after their 107-102 overtime victory over the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. Chris Paul fought back tears when asked what Billups has meant to the team. Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro kept shaking his head, repeatedly saying how bad he felt for Billups and adding, “This is not good.”

Chauncey Billups was averaging 15 points a night, and had provided the young Clippers with invaluable leadership this season. An MRI today is expected to determine the 35-year old’s fate.

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  • BRAVO

    Awwwwwwwwwwwwww tooooo bad.

    Let’s

    Go
    Lakers

  • http://www.kb24.com The Seed

    I hate the overrated Billups, so he deserves it. Mr Big Shot crap will be put away. He caused the Pistons to lose to Spurs in Finals, Heat in Eastern Conference Finals and let Lebron beat them with his kids.

    Also JR Smith needs to go to the Bulls, Melo and JR are the same people, just different heights.

    Clippers lob city crap can go too, can’t wait until Paul leaves them in 2 years, and everyone will ask the question, did Paul just waste two years of his NBA career. The answer will be yes.

  • http://bigleaguewiffleball.com/ Jon L.

    Wow, that is a huge blow to the Clippers. Good thing they have Mo Williams as a backup even though he doesn’t make the clutch shots that Chauncey does.

  • JML-G

    @The Seed – u mad, little buddy?!

  • tom

    daaaamn

  • angus

    ”The Seed” must be your typical ignorant laker fan…

  • http://leipzig-eagles.de/ Speedy

    The Seed …..?

  • Honduran

    Damn Chauncey… This is a really sad day for the Clippers.. I feel for you , CB. :-(

  • http://idunkonthem.blogspot.com albie1kenobi

    what The Seed fail to mention was that Billups also caused his beloved Lakers with 4 future HOF’ers lose to the uber-underdog Pistons in 2004 in embarrassing fashion (4-1, with the lone win coming from a kobe buzzer beating 3 that forced OT).

  • hushabomb

    Whatever the case is, get well soon Chauncey. You are a man with great perseverance and resolve. Everytime you have had a setback, you have come back better than ever. your career is not over!!! Fight to get back on the court and playing like you use to.

  • Niio

    Stay strong Chauncey, get surgery and rehab it up and you’ll be back next year. I tore my left achilles 7 years ago. Got my cast off in Feb and was playing full speed by the summer. I recently tore my right achilles tendon and will have surgery this coming thursday. Its going to be a tough road to rehab but it definitely isn’t “OVER” by far for me or you Chauncey.

  • http://Slamonline.com Caboose

    If it really is as bad as it could be, he should retire asap and then the Clips should immediately bring him on as an assistant coach.

  • http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=pawtucketymca Gametimeweezy

    So it’s safe to say he’s out for the year? I’d be rip-sh!t… soo many injuries this year in the condensed season. It’s like anybody can get it.

  • IAMORANGE4EVER

    Seed when was the genesis of you becoming such a Billups hater? Was it the Lakers vs. Pistons Finals?

  • Jose

    i find it difficult to see him comeback from his especially with his age/mileage. . .its too dang bad , especially after getting bounced from teams and treating him as a trade piece.

  • Boss Bailey

    The list of players they can go after is somewhat lengthy. I would workout, Iverson, JR Smith, Gilbert, Michael Redd, and for the hell of it I’d give Brandon Roy a call too.

  • DukeFromDeep

    yeah Seed… bad sport ya douche… Billups doesn’t deserve this. Go Clipps with or w/out JR.

  • http://www.nba.com VanCityBBall

    i hope the best for him… i pray he wont retire this would be like brandon roy retiring all over again..(except billups is clearly older but i mean emotionally)

  • JoeMaMa

    For some reason, there are those who think that a selfish, immature knucklehead is going to replace or offset the loss of a smart, savy veteran point guard with championship experience????

  • http://www.slamonline.com melvin ely

    hey Seed, go eff yourself buddy. Seriously. I refuse to believe any of those comments can come from a rational human being who isn’t looking to troll, you ignorant sh*t spewing troll. Book that.

  • AQWORD

    Your moms was obviously an astronaut.

  • Justin G.

    lol@melvin. Exactly what I was thinking. It doesn’t matter if you feel somebody is overrated. They still don’t “deserve” an injury like that. Nobody does. @cold as ice…I was blaming the Knicks for amnestying him in the first place. Maybe he doesn’t get this injury if he’s not playing there. Maybe he does. I was only half kidding anyway so relax

  • http://slamonline house

    Wow saying that someone deserves to be injured just shows that Seed is obviously lacking real perspective. Would he like to be struck down by such a severe injury? I don’t think so.

  • Scot Peirson

    Tough for the Clippers to lose Chauncey Bigshot, but also typical of their history. Would I move Mo up to start??!? No. Three possibilities–
    1. J.R. Smith, which is obvious. A bit of a knucklehead, but when he’s on…
    2. Anthony Morrow. This would happen in a couple of weeks, when the Nets go into housecleaning mode (Meaning, Prochorov realizes that D-Will isn’t staying and he isn’t getting D-12…).
    3. AGENT ZERO. I’d take the chance. After all, Chauncey was a one playing as a two (Or a too-small 2 who had made a successful transition to playing as a 1), and Gil would fit in the same category. Moreover, it would be another hit at the Lakers’ indecisiveness.

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