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Chauncey Billups to join ESPN as an NBA analyst

Raj Mehta / USA Today Sports

As expected, it didn't take Chauncey Billups long to find work following his retirement in early September.

Billups was thought to have opportunities in coaching and front office positions, while also seeming a strong candidate for a move to television. It's the latter that's caught his eye for now, as Billups will join ESPN as a studio analyst for the coming NBA season.

The 2004 NBA Finals MVP will appear on NBA Tonight, SportsCenter, NBA Coast to Coast, ESPN Radio, and more, according to a report from Sports Illustrated.

“With my experience and passion for the game, I think I can spark interest with viewers,” Billups told the publication. “I think I have a unique perspective.”

While he's going to start out in the studio, Billups told SI that his long-term interest lies in being an in-game broadcaster. That long-term planning doesn't necessarily preclude a move to the coaching or management ranks, but those opportunities don't seem to be a focus right now:

I’m the kind of guy who has to be two feet in if I am going to give my best effort so broadcasting is something (I'm) looking at long-term. This is what I want to do and the avenue I want to take. At the moment, I’m not thinking about working in an NBA front office or coaching or anything else. I’m thinking about being the best I can be at ESPN in the studio.

This seems like a strong hire for ESPN, with little doubt that Billups will do well in the role.

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