Chauncey Billups will miss the remainder of the NBA season after tearing his left Achilles tendon during the Clippers’ 107-102 win over the Orlando Magic on Monday night.
An MRI, which was conducted at the Cleveland Clinic, confirmed the injury, the Clippers said in a statement. The team said Billups will return to Los Angeles for further evaluation and a date for surgery hasn’t been determined.
Despite the injury, Billups appears intent on continuing his career. According to the Los Angeles Times, the 35-year-old point guard said he has no plans of allowing an injury to push him out of the league.
“No, sir. There is no way I’m going to crawl out of the league,” Billups said Tuesday, according to the publication. “I’m going to be back. Trust me.”
He added: “I’ll get it taken care of and get back the best way I can. That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
Billups was averaging nearly 15 points and four assists per game for the Clippers. The team picked him up off waivers after the New York Knicks used their amnesty clause to dump his contract to make room for Tyson Chandler before the season.
His contract with the Clippers is up after the season, but according to the Los Angeles Times, the point guard said he would like to return to the rejuvenated Clippers franchise next year.
Billups suffered the injury in the fourth quarter when he was attempting to turn around to run up court after a missed shot. His leg buckled and he fell to the floor. Teammates surrounded Billups and he had to be helped up from off the floor.
Billups has played for seven franchises during his 14-year NBA career. Last year, he was traded to the Knicks as part of the deal that sent Carmelo Anthony to New York.
