Billups’ wisdom resonates with Team USA

Looking back, Chauncey Billups  thinks about his immaturity, the seasons lost to foolishness, and it makes sense he’s here. He thinks of the loneliness, a lost soul drifting until Terrell Brandon reached down and lifted him with wisdom and guidance. Yes, he’s making up for lost time now, a thirtysomething determined to thrust himself into every championship circumstance left in his basketball career.

Mostly, he loves the mentoring. He talks to these Team USA kids in the buses, the hotels, moments of truth on the basketball court. He doesn’t lecture. This is a burden of responsibility that he goes out of his way to take upon himself.

“I never had this when I came into the league,” Billups said. “By instinct now, this is what I do.”

Practice was over at the Besiktas Turka Arena on Wednesday, and Billups was still the final player on the floor. He was getting some more shots up and making sure all those young players were watching him work. He turns 34 this month, and these national team summers perhaps ought to belong to the twentysomethings. Most of his peers can’t be bothered, but Billups desperately wanted a chance to play for Team USA. This team needs Billups in 2010 the way it needed Jason Kidd in 2008.

“Yeah, I’m making up for some lost time in my career,” Billups said. “I’m pretty sure there isn’t a guy my age in the league who’s experienced the kind of success I have, would volunteer to be here giving their summer up. But for me, in my first five years, I didn’t play very much. And when I did, I didn’t play that great. I’m still fresh. I’ve still got some really good years left in me. I’ve still got a lot of things I want to accomplish.”