As Minnesota’s playoff run ends, respected assistant Micah Nori emerges as a top candidate to lead Portland, bringing a modern, player-centric approach to the Blazers' bench.
There’s been no shortage of head coaching candidacy reports around the Portland Trail Blazers over the last few weeks, but the most recent name is Minnesota assistant Micah Nori. As first reported by Marc Stein, Nori is being connected to the job following the Timberwolves’ second-round loss to the San Antonio Spurs, which officially sent Minnesota into the offseason.
Nori is a well-respected coach around the league and was somebody the Timberwolves have previously considered as an internal promotion candidate. He’s also been viewed as a potential head coaching target for other teams around the league in recent years, but he ultimately stuck with the Timberwolves as an assistant.
That could change this summer.
Obviously, there are other names the Blazers have been linked to this offseason, including Jared Dudley, Steve Hetzel, Greg St. Jean and, more recently, Terry Stotts, among others. But Nori would make a lot of sense for Portland.
He’s coached stars. He’s been an assistant under several great coaches. He’s the kind of assistant who has the pedigree and trajectory to be one of the next great head coaches in the league if given the opportunity.
Again, he’s coached star players. He’s coached playoff games. He’s schemed against all sorts of different teams and styles. From a resume standpoint, he checks just about every box.
In the modern era of basketball, being a coach that players not only respect, but enjoy being around, is a necessity. Nori is a new-age coach who relates to players and fits that bill.