Trail Blazers turn to Micah Nori as new head coach

The Portland Trail Blazers have named Micah Nori as their new head coach, bringing in the former Minnesota Timberwolves lead assistant to guide the franchise’s next phase.

Nori arrives after five seasons on Chris Finch’s staff in Minnesota, where the Timberwolves became one of the league’s more consistent regular-season teams and reached the postseason in each of those years. He also took on added in-game responsibilities during Minnesota’s 2024 playoff run while Finch was recovering from a knee injury.

Portland’s search, led by general manager Joe Cronin, reportedly included more than a dozen interviews. Boston Celtics assistant Tyler Lashbrook and former interim coach Tiago Splitter were among the other finalists, with Splitter later joining the Chicago Bulls.

For the Blazers, the hire points toward a coach valued for communication and player relationships as much as résumé. Nori has been in NBA coaching circles since 2009, with previous stops including Toronto, Sacramento, Denver and Detroit, giving Portland an experienced assistant moving into the top seat.