Portland Trail Blazers have hired Minnesota Timberwolves lead assistant Micah Nori as their next head coach, sources confirmed. Nori, widely viewed as one of the NBA’s top assistants, entered the league in 2009 and spent the last five seasons under Chris Finch in Minnesota. His contract is a multi‑year deal with team options and a sliding‑scale salary tied to incentives and team success.

General manager Joe Cronin conducted a comprehensive interview slate of more than a dozen candidates before narrowing the field to Nori, Boston Celtics assistant Tyler Lashbrook and former interim coach Tiago Splitter, who recently joined the Chicago Bulls. Portland zeroed in on Nori for his strong communication and relationship skills, qualities praised by both players and staff during the Wolves’ recent playoff run.

During Minnesota’s 2024 postseason, Nori assumed many in‑game coaching duties while Finch recovered from a knee injury, showcasing his ability to manage high‑pressure situations. His résumé also includes stints with the Raptors, Kings, Nuggets and Pistons, giving him a broad network across the league. Portland expects Nori to translate that experience into a quicker rise in the Western Conference standings.