John Salley, who has won four NBA championships, is known for
his role with the Detroit 'Bad Boy' Pistons. He has expressed
his support for Chauncey Billups, a fellow Pistons legend, in the
aftermath of allegations linking the Portland Trail Blazers' head
coach to a reported game-fixing investigation.
In an interview with Digital Content Creative Joe
'joy.of.everything' Andaloro, Salley strongly opposed the claims,
claiming that they were unfounded and detrimental to a respected
basketball figure.
“I don’t believe any of it,”
Salley said. “I talked to Gilbert Arenas about it, and the fact
that someone even had the nerve to throw Chauncey’s name into this
situation — I’d be pissed off too.”
“They Only Showed the Household Names”
Salley asserted that the public nature of the accusations
suggests that they unfairly target recognized athletes while
leaving others unnamed.
“What I told Gilbert was, it’s amazing they only showed
three guys we’ve actually heard of, out of 30,” he explained. “Why
not show everyone involved if you’re going to name names? They only
showed the ones who are professional athletes, the household names.
If that’s the case, then show them all — don’t just go after the
recognizable faces.”
The former
Pistons enforcer highlighted the importance of big names like
Billups in drawing public attention, but also in creating undue
harm when speculation replaces facts.
“Chauncey’s
Not That Kind of Guy”
Salley, whose strong opinions and protective loyalty
towards fellow players are well-known, stated that he knows
Billups' character well enough to dismiss the allegations
outright.
“I know Chauncey,” Salley said firmly. “I know he
doesn’t have a table you can see through, I know he doesn’t have
special cards or glasses — this whole thing just doesn’t make
sense.
People love to use your name when you’re a Hall of Famer
or a big name in the game. They say, ‘Hey, if you show up, people
will come out.’ It’s a draw. But once things stop benefiting
certain people, suddenly the story changes.”
“He Was Framed — 100 Percent”
Salley didn't hesitate when
asked directly about his belief in Billups and others being
framed.
“One hundred percent — by the same people they won’t
name,” he said. “Think about it — you really think Chauncey’s got
time to be out here building some kind of setup? The man flies into
Vegas, gets paid to show up, plays poker, and that’s it. He’s not
out here running games.”
Salley also questioned why the NBA or law enforcement
hadn't uncovered anything sooner if wrongdoing had indeed
occurred.
“They’ve been watching Chauncey for four years, and he’s
moved up the coaching ranks in that time. If anything shady was
going on, the NBA would have known long ago,” he said.
A Friend’s
Faith and a Legacy at Stake
Salley sees this as more than a headline — it's also about his
reputation, respect, and the protection of someone who he views as
his brother.
“Chauncey’s not that kind of guy. He’s not compromised like
that,” he emphasized. “People might think he’s standoffish
sometimes, but that’s not him being mean — that’s him being smart
about who he interacts with. I don’t think for one second that
Chauncey Billups was involved the way they’re trying to make it
sound.”
Salley's unwavering defense of Billups adds an important voice
to those who question the validity and motives behind the
allegations as the story unfolds.
