Trail Blazers to hire Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori as next coach

The Trail Blazers have found their coach.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Portland is hiring Timberwolves lead assistant Micah Nori as its next head coach on a multiyear deal.

Nori, 51, has spent nearly two decades on NBA benches and has long been viewed as one of the league’s top assistant coaches. He now gets his first opportunity to run a team of his own.

The move concludes a wide-ranging search by the Blazers, who interviewed numerous candidates after the season. Among those linked to the vacancy were Knicks associate head coach Chris Jent, former Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins, Timberwolves assistant Pablo Prigioni and others.

Nori ultimately emerged as the choice.

He joined Minnesota’s staff in 2021 under Chris Finch and has served as the Timberwolves’ lead assistant. During Finch’s injury during the 2024 playoffs, Nori took on a larger role and earned praise around the league for his work with the team.

Before Minnesota, Nori spent time with the Raptors, Kings, Nuggets and Pistons. He also coached Denver’s Summer League team during Nikola Jokic‘s early years and has built a reputation as an innovative offensive mind and strong communicator.

Many fans may recognize Nori from his frequent television appearances and strategy breakdowns during Timberwolves broadcasts, where his personality and basketball insight helped make him one of the more recognizable assistants in the NBA.

Now he’ll be tasked with leading a Portland team built around a promising young core.

The Blazers hold the No. 14 overall pick in Tuesday night’s NBA Draft and are expected to continue shaping their roster around Donovan Clingan, Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe and the rest of their emerging talent.

For Nori, it’s the opportunity he’s spent years working toward. For Portland, it’s a bet on one of the NBA’s most respected assistants.