{"id":160932,"date":"2025-09-30T07:00:56","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T11:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=160932"},"modified":"2025-09-29T22:21:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T02:21:09","slug":"billups-wants-fiery-competition-for-the-blazers-starting-lineup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/09\/30\/billups-wants-fiery-competition-for-the-blazers-starting-lineup\/","title":{"rendered":"Billups Wants Fiery Competition for the Blazers’ Starting Lineup"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Portland Trail Blazers are heading into the 2025-26 season with high expectations. They were superb in the second half of last season, as Chauncey Billups’ system was working. Now, the Blazers’ starting lineup is a hot topic, including Jerami Grant’s<\/a> spot on the team.<\/p>\n

Billups Wants Fiery Competition for the Blazers’ Starting Lineup<\/h2>\n

The Portland Trail Blazers already have an exciting team ahead of next season. The rock-solid core includes players like Toumani Camara<\/a>, Deni Avdija<\/a>, and Shaedon Sharpe<\/a>. These three names have earned starting spots in Chauncey Billups’ system<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, Billups has admitted that there will be competition for starting spots. It is normal for the Blazers to have players competing for these roles, but that could pose some issues.<\/p>\n

Grant’s Spot on the Blazers is Still Questionable<\/h3>\n

Over the past few seasons, Jerami Grant<\/a> has been a polarizing player for the Trail Blazers. He is a talented forward on both ends of the floor, but he has regressed quite significantly.<\/p>\n

With Avdija and Camara’s rise, it is normal for a player like Grant to move to the bench<\/a>. Unfortunately for the Blazers, he has a massive contract. He signed a five-year $130 million deal in 2023, which means he has three more years left on it.<\/p>\n

Grant himself believes he deserves to be in the Blazers’ starting lineup, but it will ultimately be Billups’ decision.<\/p>\n

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Jerami Grant on potentially coming off the bench: "I don't really expect that."<\/p>\n

— Sean Highkin (@highkin) September 29, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n