Portland Trail Blazers Hire Micah Nori as Head Coach on One-Year Guaranteed Deal

The Portland Trail Blazers hired Micah Nori as head coach. Nori held an introductory news conference with general manager Joe Cronin on Thursday at the team's practice facility in Tualatin, Oregon. Nori said several NBA teams had told him he was their second choice for a head coaching job, including the New York Knicks in 2025.

He had also interviewed for openings with the Chicago Bulls earlier this month and the Los Angeles Lakers in 2024. Nori began his NBA career as an intern with the Toronto Raptors in 1998 and spent the past five seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Nori's contract includes one guaranteed year, back-to-back team options, a below-market base salary and performance incentives, sources told ESPN.

Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff called the terms a slap in the face to coaches' value. Nori said he spoke with Bickerstaff about the comments and they had no bearing on him. Cronin said the team hired the coach it wanted and the contract terms did not affect its ability to secure its preferred candidate.

Nori said he is excited to be on the other side after 28 years of visiting Portland with opposing teams. He promised the Blazers will play hard, smart and together for 48-plus minutes each night and identified turnovers and three-point percentage as areas for improvement.

Damian Lillard, fourth on the NBA's all-time three-point list, will return next season after missing last year with a left Achilles injury.

The Blazers reached the playoffs for the first time in five seasons with a 42-40 record under interim coach Tiago Splitter before losing to San Antonio in five games. Splitter was hired this month by the Chicago Bulls. Nori is a first-time head coach taking over a playoff team.