PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach Tiago Splitter has been named interim head coach following the arrest of head coach Chauncey Billups Thursday morning as part of a federal gambling-related investigation. ESPN's Shams Charania broke the news of Splitter's appointment to the interim role soon after the NBA confirmed that Billups had been placed on leave.

According to Charania, the team also considered lead assistant coach Nate Bjorkgren, but Bjorkgren felt the franchise would be better served if he remained in his current role.

Splitter is a former NBA center who won a championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014. He joined the Blazers coaching staff in June alongside assistant coaches Patrick St. Andrews and Quinton Crawford.

Before joining the Blazers, Sp

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