Getty Image
- The Portland Trailblazers received massive amount of backlash after hiring Chauncey Billups as their new head coach despite previous sexual assault allegation
- Blazers star Damian Lillard responded to criticism from fans who are blaming him for the Billups hire
- Click HERE for more NBA news!
Damian Lillard is being put in an awkward position after the Portland Trailblazers made a controversial hire.
On Friday it was announced that the team was hiring former Pistons guard Chauncey Billups as their new head coach.
Breaking: Chauncey Billups has emerged as the front-runner to be offered the Portland Trail Blazers head coaching job, sources tell @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/U9GiQutigr
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 26, 2021
The Billups hire received immediate backlash due to the fact that he was once accused of sexual assault in 1997 in a case that was settled out of court.
Well, Olshey, Lillard and the @trailblazers have made it clear they value winning more than they value their fans who are survivors of sexual assault. #RipCity https://t.co/MVycIOEJX5
— sarah iannarone (she/her) (@sarahforpdx) June 26, 2021
Blazers star Damian Lillard received some criticism for the Billups hire because many believe that he played a part in the hiring process. On Saturday, Lillard took to Twitter to admit that he had no idea about Billups’ past sexual assault allegations and that he didn’t have much of a say in who the team hired as a head coach.
Really? I was asked what coaches I like of the names I “heard” and I named them. Sorry I wasn’t aware of their history I didn’t read the news when I was 7/8yrs old. I don’t support Those things … but if this the route y’all wana come at me… say less https://t.co/N1GPkX3Ohd
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) June 26, 2021
I said what I said family. https://t.co/uwgFRPS5zW
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) June 26, 2021