Portland Blazers Name Micah Nori New Head Coach

Micah Nori, 52, has been named the new head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, as announced on Tuesday. Nori previously served as the lead assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves for the last five seasons. He succeeds interim coach Tiago Splitter, who recently accepted the head coaching position with the Chicago Bulls. Splitter had guided the Trail Blazers to a 42-40 record and a playoff appearance last season.

General Manager Joe Cronin revealed the decision just hours before the commencement of the 2026 NBA Draft. The Trail Blazers currently hold no draft picks due to previous trade agreements. Cronin expressed confidence in Nori, citing his contributions to successful organizations, player development expertise, and authentic leadership style.

Nori's coaching career spans nearly three decades, including extensive playoff experience. As an assistant to Chris Finch, he helped the Timberwolves achieve playoff berths in all five of his seasons, reaching the Western Conference finals in both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. He also held assistant coaching roles with the Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings, and Toronto Raptors.

Nori fills the final head coaching vacancy in the NBA this offseason. He joins a group of newly appointed head coaches, including Tiago Splitter (Bulls), Taylor Jenkins (Bucks), Jamahl Mosley (Pelicans), Sean Sweeney (Magic), and Dusty May (Mavericks). Nori stated his gratitude for the opportunity and expressed excitement about building a winning culture in Portland.