Chauncey Billups is a Joe Dumars disciple, if you will, a guard who plays the game the way Dumars played, and also a protégé of Dumars for six years in Detroit, when “Joe D” ran the organization and “C-Bill” ran the offense.
The Nuggets’ Billups won the NBA’s Sportsmanship Award today and was given the Joe Dumars trophy. The award was voted for by NBA players, given to a player who reflects the ideals of sportsmanship — ethical behavior, fair play and integrity.
“Obviously, it’s an unbelievable honor for me,” Billups said Tuesday afternoon. “This trophy, amongst all the other trophies I have, this is going to be one that’s very special and dear to me, because of what I believe in, how I play the game, and how I live my life.”
Billups received 82 of a possible 336 first-place votes. And on Wednesday at Pepsi Center, the Nuggets will try to win Game 5 against New Orleans. A Nuggets win Wednesday would put them in the Western Conference semifinals against either Dallas or San Antonio. Tthe Mavericks, like the Nuggets, lead the series 3-1, and they play Game 5 against the Spurs tonight.
As for his award-winning point guard, Nuggets coach George Karl said: “I just think it’s marvelous. I think Chauncey has been one of the marquee players on the court, but probably more so a marquee player off the court. We’re very honored and privileged as an organization to have him.”
Then Karl turned to Billups and said: “I congratulate you, Chauncey, thank you, Chauncey, keep it going, Chauncey, get a few more guys in the locker room to follow you, Chauncey.”
Boston’s Ray Allen finished second in the voting and Detroit’s Antonio McDyess finished third. Billups is close friends with McDyess but, unfortunately, Billups can’t trash talk about beating him for the award because, of course, that would be unsportsmanlike.
Game 5 tickets available
The Nuggets said tickets that had been held by the NBA and the team for Wednesday’s Game 5 against the visiting Hornets have been released and are for sale.
Those tickets start at $10 and are available at the Pepsi Center box office and through Ticketmaster.
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
