Tiago Splitter had an impressive basketball career. The Brazilian legend has now made his way back to the NBA after some time away in Europe and will join the Portland Trailblazers coaching staff. His time in Europe served the Brazilian basketball icon well before making his way to the NBA to play for the San Antonio Spurs and the Philadelphia 76ers. He would go on to win a championship in San Antonio before making his way to the 76ers and eventually retiring from playing. That was not to be the last time we would see Splitter in the NBA.
Tiago Splitter was part of an era-defining team in San Antonio, Texas
Tiago Splitter Beims was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2007 NBA draft. He joined a truly remarkable team and was mentored by a truly remarkable coach in Gregg Popovich. The Spurs had a love affair with international players at the time, as Tony Parker(France) and Manu Ginóbili(Argentina) were the stars of the NBA at the time.
Tiago Splitter would go on to win a championship with the Spurs in 2014. He would then spend some time with the 76ers before deciding to retire. Following that decision, he would spend some time on the coaching staff of the Brooklyn Nets and Houston Rockets. After establishing his knowledge of the coaching game, Tiago was then offered the head coach job at Paris Basketball, which he took.
He has some experience with European basketball, as before he played in the NBA, Splitter played for Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain. The club is known as one of the best in Spain, and Tiago won several titles with the Spanish team before making his way to America and the NBA. Having coached in Europe, he has established himself as an effective coach who could be integral to the right club in the NBA. Now, the Blazers aim to be that club.
Tiago Splitter to join NBA legend Chauncey Billups in Portland
The Portland Trailblazers were founded as an expansion team in 1970. They won their first championship in 1977, led by Bill Walton and coach Jack Ramsay. The 80s were where they rose to dominate the NBA. Led by Hall-of-Famer Clyde Drexler, the Portland Trailblazers made 21 consecutive playoff appearances from 1983 to 2003, which featured a run to the NBA Finals in 1989 and 1992.
Since then, the team struggled to compete until a player named Damian Lillard rose to the occasion. Lillard became the franchise’s all-time points leader and led the Blazers to a Conference Finals run in 2019 before leaving for Milwaukee. Following Lillard’s departure, the Trailblazers hired head coach Chauncey Billups in 2021, but the team’s woes have continued.
With all the head coach changes in the NBA, it takes time for the new coach to implement his own playing and management style. Tiago Splitter joins the coaching staff in Portland alongside another former star, Patrick St. Andrews. Can the pair alongside Chauncey Billups bring the Portland Trailblazers back from the depths of the NBA to once again challenge for a title?
Is the Tiago Splitter appointment the right move for the Portland Trailblazers?
The Trailblazers are surely considering their long-term future with these two new coaching staff appointments. The NBA has become more competitive than ever, as evidenced by the two small-market teams in the Finals this year. Gone are the days when the teams with the most money dominated the league. Nowadays, smaller teams like the Trailblazers have the opportunity to become immensely successful and challenge the dominance of the Lakers or the Celtics. Splitter’s appointment is a positive move for the Blazers. What will the effect be on the court next season?
