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Billups: 'I love my Pistons,' but won't seek front-office job that isn't open

Andrew D. Bernstein / National Basketball Association / Getty

Five-time All-Star Chauncey Billups has responded to reports suggesting the Detroit Pistons are interested in hiring him for a significant front-office role.

“I’m very happy with the on-air opportunities ESPN has given me to talk about the NBA in the studio and at games," Billups said, according to ESPN's Marc J. Spears. "Of course, I love my Pistons and Detroit. But I would never push for a job with any NBA franchise that is not open. That’s not part of my character,”

The Pistons' current front-office hierarchy below owner Tom Gores includes vice chairman Arn Tellem, president of basketball operations and head coach Stan Van Gundy, and general manager Jeff Bower. The initial report from The New York Times' Marc Stein indicates Billups and Tellem would work closely together, but omits mention of either Van Gundy or Bower.

Van Gundy is in the second-last year of his contract, having compiled a 144-172 regular-season record and going 0-4 in the playoffs to date.

Billups was a front-runner for the president of basketball operations position with the Cleveland Cavaliers last summer but ultimately withdrew from consideration to remain in his studio analyst role.

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