The Portland Trail Blazers find themselves navigating through a tumultuous season as interim head coach Tiago Splitter steps into the spotlight following the abrupt departure of former head coach Chauncey Billups, who was arrested amid serious gambling-related charges. Despite the challenges, the Trail Blazers hold a balanced 6-6 record early in the season, showcasing promising talent like forward Deni Avdija.
One of Splitter’s notable past players, Alperen Sengun, who now plays for the Houston Rockets, attributes much of his development to the interim coach. In a recent game where the Rockets defeated the Trail Blazers 140-116, Sengun reflected on the positive influence Splitter had on his career, highlighting their close relationship and Splitter’s ability to enhance his skills.
Sengun praised Splitter’s coaching style, recalling how he focused on building Sengun’s left-hand game during their time together with the Rockets in the 2023 season. “Some days, we’d just work on the left hand, no right,” Sengun shared, emphasizing how Splitter mentally prepared him for high-pressure matchups against elite players like Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokić.
Having previously coached Paris Basketball in the EuroLeague, Splitter’s aspiration to succeed as a head coach in the NBA has now come to fruition. Sengun noted that Splitter was always committed to returning to the NBA, and his hard work has paid off with the opportunity to lead the Trail Blazers. “He did a really good job in EuroLeague… he always wanted to be a head coach [in the NBA],” Sengun stated.
For Splitter, securing a playoff berth for the Trail Blazers, the team’s first since the 2020-21 season, would signify a remarkable achievement in his coaching journey. As it stands, with the Trail Blazers potentially a play-in game away from postseason contention, the focus remains on improving their performance moving forward.
The Trail Blazers are set to face the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, an important matchup that could help them regain momentum in the Western Conference rankings. As the team rallies under Splitter’s leadership, fans and players alike are hopeful for a successful season ahead.