The Portland Trail Blazers are set to hire the Minnesota Timberwolves’ lead assistant Micah Nori to be their next head coach, the team announced on Tuesday.
Rip City, welcome our new head coach, Micah Nori! pic.twitter.com/XG0Rnc2ZjI
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— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) June 23, 2026
According to The Athletic, Portland is signing Nori to a one-year deal that also includes team options for the following two seasons.
“After an extensive search process, it became clear that Micah embodies the qualities we are looking for in the leader of this franchise,” general manager Joe Cronin said. “He has been a key contributor to successful organizations and brings a wealth expertise, a proven ability to develop players and an authenticity that aligns with the culture we are building.”
Tuesday’s announcement comes after interim head coach Tiago Splitter officially left to join the Chicago Bulls last week.
Nori has plenty of experience at the NBA level, joining the Toronto Raptors as an assistant back in 2009 before taking on similar roles with the Sacramento Kings, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons and finally the Timberwolves in 2021.
Over the last five seasons with Nori working under head coach Chris Finch, Minnesota has become a powerhouse in the Western Conference with five straight playoff bids and two WCF appearances.
Now, he’ll take the reins of a Trail Blazers squad that largely exceeded expectations this season.
“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,” Nori said in a statement. “This is a team with tremendous talent, and I’m excited to begin working with our players and staff.”
James Parker is a sports writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
