Portland Trail Blazers hire Micah Nori as next head coach

The Portland Trail Blazers have hired Minnesota Timberwolves lead assistant Micah Nori as the team’s next head coach, the franchise announced on Tuesday.

Nori spent the last five seasons as the lead assistant coach of the Timberwolves and has been coaching in the NBA since 2009.

He was hired after a thorough search conducted by Blazers general manager Joe Cronin, who reportedly interviewed more than 12 candidates before landing on Nori.

“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 in a Blazers press release Tuesday. “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.”

Tiago Splitter, who took over as interim head coach after the departure of Chauncey Billups this past season, became a fan favorite after leading the young Blazers core to the playoffs for the first time since 2020-21. Splitter was a finalist for Portland’s head coaching job before being hired by the Chicago Bulls last week.

The Blazers will be hoping that Nori’s last five years of playoff experience with the Timberwolves translates to a young Portland squad, many of whom made their postseason debuts this past season against the San Antonio Spurs in the first round.

Nori also has previous coaching stints with the Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings, Denver Nuggets and Detroit Pistons.

“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to lead the Trail Blazers and want to thank Tom, Joe and the Rip City Rising ownership group for their trust,” Nori said in the Blazers press release. “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. This is a team with tremendous talent, and I’m excited to begin working with our players and staff.”

Nori will have a litany of young talent to work with on the Blazers roster, including Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, Deni Avdija, Donovan Clingan and Toumani Camara, as well as key veteran players such as Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday.

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