Billups interested in front-office role with Nuggets

Chauncey Billups spent five years of his career in Denver, and two years into his retirement, the former NBA Finals MVP could be interested in making a return.

During an interview with AM 1340 in Denver on Friday, Billups reiterated how much he'd love to join Denver's front office, as long as the situation was right for him.

"If the right role was available - and I've always made known, I haven't been quiet or private about it at all," Billups said, according to CBS Sports' Matt Moore. "I've always had a passion to run a team, to put together a team."

"That's always been a passion of mine. I think I could do a phenomenal job at that."

Billups, 39, is a native of The Mile High City, and played basketball in the area growing up for George Washington High School, and then in college at the University of Colorado.

His first stint with the organization came during the 1999-2000 campaign, after being dealt by the Toronto Raptors in a three-way trade that included the Minnesota Timberwolves. Billups was moved to the Orlando Magic a year later.

The five-time All-Star's most famous run was from 2008-11, when the Detroit Pistons traded him in a package for Allen Iverson. Denver continued to reach the postseason with Billups running the point, even getting as far as the Western Conference finals in 2009 before being bounced by the Los Angeles Lakers in six games.

Winning will play a large part in his decision to join a front office, whether that's with the Nuggets or somewhere else.

"I want to be somewhere with somebody where they really, really want to go win. They're just not OK with mediocrity - and I'm not saying that's what (the Nuggets) are 100 percent - but it has to be the right situation for me," Billups said.

The Nuggets finished the 2015-16 regular season with a 33-49 record, missing out on the playoffs for the third year in a row.

Josh Kroenke serves as Denver's team president, while Tim Connelly acts as the general manager and executive vice president of basketball operations.