What Happened to Tiago Splitter Beims?
Tiago Splitter is a Brazilian former professional basketball player who achieved an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014, becoming the first Brazilian-born player to do so. After retiring in 2018 due to a hip injury, he transitioned into a successful coaching career, holding assistant roles in the NBA and with the Brazilian national team, and a head coaching position in Europe. As of April 2026, he is the interim head coach for the Portland Trail Blazers, a role he assumed following Chauncey Billups' suspension.
Quick Answer
Tiago Splitter, a 2014 NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs, retired from playing professional basketball in February 2018 due to a persistent hip injury. He quickly moved into coaching, serving as a scout and player development coach for the Brooklyn Nets, then as an assistant for the Houston Rockets. He also had a successful stint as head coach for Paris Basketball, winning domestic championships in 2025. Currently, as of April 2026, Splitter is the interim head coach for the Portland Trail Blazers, having taken over after Chauncey Billups was placed on leave, though his long-term future in the role is under evaluation by the new team owner.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline16 events
Born in Joinville, Brazil
Tiago Splitter Beims was born in Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Begins Professional Playing Career
Splitter started his professional basketball career in Brazil.
Moves to Spain and Joins Saski Baskonia
Splitter moved to Spain and began playing in the Liga ACB, primarily with Saski Baskonia (then Tau Ceramica/Caja Laboral Vitoria), where he would spend a decade.
Drafted by San Antonio Spurs
Tiago Splitter was selected by the San Antonio Spurs as the 28th overall pick in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft.
Named All-EuroLeague First Team
Splitter earned recognition as an All-EuroLeague First Team selection for his performance with Saski Baskonia.
Signs with San Antonio Spurs
After years of playing in Spain, Splitter officially signed his contract with the San Antonio Spurs, making his move to the NBA.
Wins NBA Championship with Spurs
Splitter became the first Brazilian-born player to win an NBA championship as a key member of the San Antonio Spurs team that defeated the Miami Heat.
Traded to Atlanta Hawks
The San Antonio Spurs traded Splitter to the Atlanta Hawks, a move that helped the Spurs clear salary cap space.
Traded to Philadelphia 76ers
Splitter was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, along with a second-round draft pick, in exchange for Ersan İlyasova.
Announces Retirement from Playing
At 33 years old, Tiago Splitter announced his retirement from professional basketball due to a persistent hip injury that had affected his performance.
Hired as Pro Scout by Brooklyn Nets
Shortly after retiring, Splitter began his coaching and front office career, joining the Brooklyn Nets as a pro scout with player development duties.
Hired as Assistant Coach by Houston Rockets
After several years with the Nets, Splitter joined the Houston Rockets as an assistant coach under head coach Ime Udoka.
Named Head Coach for Paris Basketball
Splitter took on his first head coaching role with Paris Basketball, competing in the LNB Élite and the EuroLeague.
Wins French Championship and French Cup with Paris Basketball
In his single season as head coach, Splitter led Paris Basketball to win both the French National Championship and the French Cup.
Named Interim Head Coach for Portland Trail Blazers
Splitter was promoted to interim head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers after Chauncey Billups was placed on indefinite leave due to a federal gambling investigation.
Future as Blazers Head Coach Under Evaluation
As the 2025-26 NBA season nears its end, new Portland Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon is actively evaluating coaching options, leaving Splitter's long-term future as head coach uncertain despite his positive interim record.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Tiago Splitter Beims, born January 1, 1985, carved out a distinguished career in professional basketball, first in Europe and then in the NBA. He began his professional journey in Brazil in 1999 before moving to Spain in 2000, where he became a prominent figure in the Liga ACB and EuroLeague with Saski Baskonia. He was a three-time All-EuroLeague Team selection and won two Liga ACB championships with Baskonia.
Drafted 28th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in 2007, Splitter eventually joined the team in 2010, making his NBA debut on November 1, 2010. He played a crucial role as a starting center for the Spurs, culminating in an NBA championship in 2014, making him the first Brazilian-born player to achieve this feat. His time with the Spurs ended in 2015 when he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks, and he later had a brief stint with the Philadelphia 76ers.
On February 19, 2018, Splitter announced his retirement from playing at the age of 33, citing a hip injury that had significantly hampered the latter part of his career. Despite the premature end to his playing days, Splitter quickly transitioned into coaching. He was hired by the Brooklyn Nets as a pro scout in April 2018 and was promoted to player development coach in September 2019. He also took on an assistant coaching role with the Brazilian national team in 2021 and served as head coach for the Brazilian U23 national team, winning a gold medal at the GLOBL Jam Tournament in 2022.
After parting ways with the Nets in May 2023, Split joined the Houston Rockets as an assistant coach in July 2023. In a significant move, he was named head coach for Paris Basketball in the LNB Élite and EuroLeague on July 16, 2024, where he led the team to win the French Championship and French Cup in 2025. Following this successful season, he left Paris Basketball and was named an assistant coach for the Portland Trail Blazers on June 12, 2025.
His coaching trajectory took an unexpected turn on October 23, 2025, when he was named the interim head coach for the Portland Trail Blazers after head coach Chauncey Billups was placed on indefinite leave amid a federal gambling investigation. As of April 9, 2026, Splitter has guided the Blazers to a 40-38 record, placing them 9th in the Western Conference and qualifying for the Play-In Tournament. However, his long-term future as head coach is currently under evaluation by the new Blazers owner, Tom Dundon, who is reportedly exploring other candidates, including college coaches, despite discussions about a potential extension for Splitter.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Tiago Splitter Beims made different choices?