New coach Micah Nori must balance high-octane playmakers with limited touches, transforming a crowded backcourt of elite stars into a cohesive, positionless offensive force this season.
The Portland Trail Blazers have no shortage of talent at point guard heading into the 2026 season. In fact, figuring out how to maximize all of that talent could be one of the biggest challenges facing new head coach Micah Nori early in the season.
Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson give Portland four legitimate point guards with different strengths and levels of experience. On top of that, Deni Avdija showed last season that he can be a dangerous playmaker when given the freedom to operate with the ball.
As The Athletic's Jason Quick pointed out, that collection of talent creates both an opportunity and a challenge for the Blazers, "With Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson, the Blazers have four talented point guards … and don’t forget point forward Deni Avdija, whose breakout 2025-26 season was rooted in the freedom to create with the ball. Whether new coach Micah Nori can keep them all happy — and, more importantly, effective — figures to be the central plot in the Blazers’ early season."
That last part is what makes Portland's situation so fascinating. Having multiple players capable of handling the ball is a luxury, but there are only so many touches to go around. Lillard, Morant and Henderson all have experience running an offense, while Holiday has spent his entire career making winning plays with the ball in his hands.
The answer may be less about designating one traditional point guard and more about embracing a positionless approach. Nori can put multiple playmakers on the floor together and allow the offense to flow through whoever has the best matchup or opportunity. Avdija's ability to initiate offense only gives Portland another option.
That appears to fit with Nori's philosophy. Quick noted that the coach views the logjam as a luxury, with ball movement and decision-making expected to be central to his offensive system.
The bigger challenge will be keeping everyone invested when roles inevitably fluctuate. Some nights Henderson may have a larger role. Other nights Morant or Lillard could dominate the ball, while Holiday provides stability and leadership.
If Nori can get those players comfortable sacrificing individual opportunities for the bigger picture, Portland could have one of the deepest collections of playmakers in the NBA. If the roles become a source of frustration, however, the situation could become much more complicated.
For now, the Blazers have a good problem to have. Making sure it stays that way will be one of Nori's most important jobs in 2026.
