Billups was the third pick in the 1997 draft. The first pick that year was Tim Duncan, and the second was Fan Hoen, who was hailed as the next Big Bird.
The first few years of Billups's career were unremarkable. His time with the Celtics, the Nuggets, and the Minnesota Timberwolves could only be described as underwhelming. But when he came to Detroit, all of his potential was unleashed.
He liked to slow down the pace, to feel the rhythm of the game.
He was comfortable to play with. He was a point guard whose assist numbers weren't flashy, but his ability to run an offense was excellent.
Billups didn't look very strong, probably due to the shape of his head. In reality, he stood 191 cm tall, often weighed over 93 kilograms, and possessed a very stable base and powerful upper body strength.
