Editor's Note: This story includes graphic descriptions of sexual assault allegations.
The Trail Blazers made it clear on June 29's introductory press conference that they were done discussing new head coach Chauncey Billups's past—his sexual assault allegations.
The organization opened the presser by announcing it had concluded its own investigation into the 1997 alleged rape that led to then-Celtics rookie Billups and several of his friends and teammates being sued by a woman who said he and his friends sexually assaulted her.
“With all sincerity, and you have my word along with everyone else in the organization, we are aware of the concerns that have been expressed by people regarding some serious allegations Chauncey faced in 1997. We took the allegations very seriously, and we treated them with the gravity that they deserve,” he said. “Even though other NBA organizations, business partners, television networks, regional networks, have all enthusiastically in the past and present offered Chauncey high-profile positions with their organizations, we wanted to make sure we had our own thorough process because some things are just bigger than basketball.”