The Portland Trail Blazers introduced Chauncey Billups as head coach in a news conference on Tuesday. The hiring takes place amid the resurfacing of a 1997 rape allegation made against Billups.

Neil Olshey said Tuesday that an independent investigation gave the organization confidence in moving forward with Billups as coach.

"We commissioned our own independent investigation into the incident in question 1997," Olshey said. "The findings of that [investigation] corroborated Chauncey's recollection of the events, that nothing non-consensual happened. We stand by Chauncey, everyone in the organization, and believe he's the right person to be our head coach and the right choice to be an ambassador in the Portland community everyone is accustomed to."

No criminal charges were brought in the 1997 case, but Billups settled a civil lawsuit filed by the woman.

Billups addressed the issue in his opening remarks.

"Before I even talk about my role, with the team and me being the head coach, I first want to talk about ... the incident that happened in 1997," Billups said. "There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about how every decision we make could have a profound impact on a person's life. I learned at a very young age as a player, but not only a player but a young man, a young adult, that every decision has consequences. And that's led to some really, really healthy, but tough conversations that I've had to have with my wife, who was my girlfriend at the time in 1997, and my daughters about what actually happened and what they may have to read about me in the news and the media.

"But this experience has shaped my life in so many different ways. My decision-making, obviously. Who I allow to be in my life, the friendships and relationships I have and how I go about them. It's impacted every decision that I make and it's shaped me in some unbelievable ways. I know how important it is to have the right support system around you, particularly in tough, difficult times."

A moderator for the news conference interjected when follow-up questions on the incident were asked.