The Portland Trail Blazers moved fast. After watching Tiago Splitter walk out the door to Chicago, they needed a new head coach. They found one in Micah Nori.
Nori spent the last five seasons as the lead assistant for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He’s 52 years old and has been coaching in the NBA since 2009. A lot of people around the league think he’s one of the best assistants who hasn’t gotten a head coaching job yet. That changed this week.
According to a report from Jason Quick, Nori agreed to a one-year deal with team options for each of the next two seasons. That structure suggests Portland wants to see what he can do before committing long-term. But it also gives Nori a real shot to prove himself.
Splitter’s departure was sudden. The Bulls hired him to lead their rebuild after a busy few weeks of front-office moves in Chicago. Splitter won a championship as a player with the Spurs in 2014 and then won two titles in France with Paris Basketball in 2025. That resume made him an attractive target. And once Chicago’s EVP of Basketball Operations Bryson Graham made the hire official, Portland had to scramble.
They didn’t scramble for long. The search reportedly included conversations with a number of established names. Chris Jent, the associate head coach of the New York Knicks, was getting some buzz late in the process. Jent just helped the Knicks win the 2026 NBA championship against San Antonio and has a reputation as a sharp offensive mind. But the Blazers went with Nori instead.
What Nori Brings to Portland
Nori has been around. He started his NBA coaching career with the Toronto Raptors in 2009. Since then he has worked for the Timberwolves, the Nuggets, the Kings and the Pistons. He has seen a lot of different systems. He has also sat in on a lot of head-coaching meetings. That experience matters when you are taking over a young team that needs direction.
Portland’s roster is in flux. They have some young pieces but no clear star to build around right now. Nori’s first job will be getting everyone on the same page defensively and building an identity. The Timberwolves became a top-tier defensive team during his time there. Portland could use some of that.
The contract is short. That puts pressure on Nori to show results quickly. But it also gives the Blazers flexibility. If things click, they can extend him. If they don’t, they can move on without a massive buyout. It’s a low-risk bet on a coach who has been waiting for this moment.
(A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the Chicago Bulls hired Tiago Splitter. The Bulls hired Billy Donovan. Ed.)
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