US reporter: Trail Blazers general manager strictly ordered players not to contact Billups during the investigation
6686 Sports, October 26 According to previous reports, Heat player Rozier, Trail Blazers coach Billups and former NBA player Damon Jones were arrested for illegal investment competitions.
American reporter Chris Haynes reported on the show today about the reaction of the Trail Blazers after learning of Billups' arrest:
Sources revealed that the Trail Blazers held a solemn team meeting, in which almost no players spoke. It was at the meeting that the team learned that coach Billups was suspected of participating in an illegal investment competition.
Let’s start from yesterday morning. Sources tell me that Trail Blazers general manager Cronin gathered the entire team and coaching staff to personally inform them of the situation. Sources said that the players were all silent at the time, shocked and speechless. No one asked any questions, and the scene was chillingly quiet. Later, Cronin told the team that no one should attempt to contact Billups while the investigation is ongoing.
Then, sources told me, assistant coach Split stepped forward. He told the team: The team's goals will not change. He is currently in charge and he will work hard to keep everything running normally until the coach returns. It is worth mentioning that the Trail Blazers originally wanted to hand over the interim head coach position to assistant coach Nate Bjorkgren, but he has a very close relationship with Billups and he declined the appointment.