What started in Park Hill should soon be headed to Springfield.

Denver native Chauncey Billups was among the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame finalists announced Friday afternoon. Billups, the third overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft following All-American careers at George Washington High School and the University of Colorado, went on to enjoy a 17-year career with the Celtics, Raptors, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Pistons Knicks and Clippers.

The highlight of his professional career came in 2004 when he won Finals Most Valuable Player after leading Detroit past the Lakers in five games. In his second stint with the Nuggets, Billups helped Denver return to the conference finals in 2009.

Billups was a five-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA selection and two-time All-Defensive team member. Detroit retired his No. 1 jersey following his lengthy career. He also represented the United States in the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship. After retiring in 2014, Billups started his NBA coaching career as a Clippers assistant in 2020. A year later, he was named head coach of the Trail Blazers, a position he still holds.

Unlike other sports the NBA does not have its own Hall of Fame like the NFL or MLB. Instead, all basketball accomplishments, including WNBA and international competitions, are celebrated at basketball’s Hall of Fame. The other players named as finalists for the class of 2024 are Vince Carter, Michael Cooper, Walter Davis (who played for the Nuggets 1988-91), Seimone Augustus, Dick Barnett, Michele Timms.

The class will be announced on April 6 during the NCAA Men’s Final Four festivities in Phoenix. Enshrinement weekend is set for Aug. 16 and 17 in Massachusetts.