Chauncey Billups: Weighing Mr. Big Shot's Chances of Returning to NBA

Chauncey Billups' season came to a sudden end after a MRI exam Tuesday revealed that the Los Angeles Clippers guard has a torn left Achilles tendon.

At 35 years of age and in the middle of his 15th NBA season, there's a good chance that we may have seen the last of Mr. Big Shot in an NBA uniform.

Just don't tell that to Billups, as he's not hearing any retirement talk and vows to make a comeback.

As one of the better all-around guys in the NBA, it would be nice to see Billups return to form, but whether it's entirely possible remains to be seen.

First off, he will be a free agent next season, so he was likely going to have to take less money next year anyway, but now that he's coming off an injury it could cost him even more financially.

Then you have to consider the fact that the NBA is becoming a young man's game. How will the injury really effect the mobility of Billups?

If there's even the slightest hint that he wouldn't be 100 percent next season, it could be awfully difficult for a team to take a shot on him.

Despite all that, Billups brings the two traits to the table that you just can't find in the average NBA player—leadership and clutch play.

Even if it comes down to Billups being regulated to a bench role, he could have value to a contender in the future. Of course, that also means Billups would have to be fine with that type of a role.

Either way, a lot has to be done on Billups' end between now and next season, but it would be a shame to see a good career come to an end in this fashion.