The Portland Trail Blazers announced Tuesday that they have chosen Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori to lead the team as their next head coach, following a playoff appearance this past season under interim coach Tiago Splitter — the club’s first postseason berth in five years.
Nori, 52, spent the last five seasons in Minnesota, serving as the lead assistant under head coach Chris Finch. During that stretch, the Timberwolves reached the playoffs each year, won five playoff series, and advanced to the Western Conference finals in both 2023 and 2024. When Finch was sidelined with a knee injury during the 2024 postseason, Nori took on an expanded role in managing games.
Before landing in Minnesota, Nori built a lengthy career across the NBA. He got his start in the league in 1998 as a scout with the Toronto Raptors and later served as an assistant coach for the Raptors, the Sacramento Kings, the Denver Nuggets, and the Detroit Pistons. He had also been considered for several other head coaching positions, including interviews with the Chicago Bulls earlier this month, the New York Knicks last year, and the Los Angeles Lakers in 2024. On a personal note, his son Dante plays minor league baseball in the Philadelphia Phillies organization.
Blazers general manager Joe Cronin expressed strong confidence in the decision. “After an extensive search process, it became clear that Micah embodies the qualities we are looking for in the leader of this franchise,” Cronin said in a statement. “He has been a key contributor to successful organizations and brings a wealth of expertise, a proven ability to develop players and an authenticity that aligns with the culture we are building. We are excited about the future under his direction and look forward to what we can accomplish together.”
Nori steps into a role that became available under dramatic circumstances. Former head coach Chauncey Billups was arrested last October as part of a federal crackdown on a large-scale gambling operation. Billups has pleaded not guilty to charges of wire fraud and money laundering. Splitter, who was elevated from assistant to interim head coach following Billups’ departure, was hired last week as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls.
Under Splitter’s guidance this past season, Portland finished 42-40 and returned to the playoffs for the first time in five years — also the first time in that span the team posted a winning record. Their run ended with a five-game first-round loss to San Antonio, which went on to become an NBA finalist.
The Nori hire is the first major personnel decision made by the Blazers’ new ownership group, led by Tom Dundon. The group purchased the franchise from the estate of Paul Allen, the Microsoft co-founder who passed away in 2018. The NBA’s Board of Governors approved the sale — reported to be worth $4.25 billion — in April.
Nori spoke positively about his conversations with team leadership. “From my conversations with Tom and Joe, it was evident that there is a strong commitment to building a culture that values accountability, development and team success,” he said. “This is a team with tremendous talent, and I’m excited to begin working with our players and staff.”
