Minnesota Timberwolves: Top 30 greatest players of all-time

• Two seasons with Timberwolves (2000-02)
• Averaged 10.9 points and 4.5 assists per game with Timberwolves

Chauncey Billups was not exactly Mr. Big Shot when he came to Minnesota back in 2000.

Billups was the third-overall pick of the Boston Celtics back in 1997 but was traded to Toronto as a rookie. Then he was traded again, this time to Denver. After two seasons with the Nuggets, Billups headed north to Minneapolis and joined forces with head coach Flip Saunders.

Billups was only a part-time starter for the Wolves over the course of two seasons but played the role of sixth-man when he did come off the bench. He averaged 10.9 points per game over the two years, playing a combo guard role that saw him be forced to distribute the ball at a higher (and more successful) rate than the first few years of his pro career.

Saunders, a point guard-minded coach, was a perfect match with Billups. After his two seasons in Minnesota, which saw the Wolves use in the first-round of the playoffs each time, he left in free agency once again, signing in Detroit, where he played for six-plus seasons.

After playing under Rick Carlisle in year one in Detroit, he then suited up for Larry Brown for a couple of years, including winning a title in 2003-04 before Saunders headed to Motown a couple of years later.

Billups went on to make seven consecutive All-Star teams — five as a Piston and two with the Nuggets. He finished his career with a half-season in New York and two with the Clippers before a 19-game swan song in Detroit in 2013-14.

Saunders and the Wolves receive credit for helping Billups turn around what seemed like a lost career after just three years in the NBA. He was an important part of the rotation in Minnesota, even if it was only for two seasons.