Micah Nori broke the coaching glass ceiling when the Portland Trail Blazers named him head coach Thursday. After 28 years in the league—Raptors intern, five seasons with Minnesota and interview runs with the Knicks, Bulls and Lakers—Nori said “No. 2” tags never discouraged him. He met GM Joe Cronin at the Blazers’ practice facility for his introductory press conference.

His deal contains one guaranteed year with back‑to‑back team options, a below‑market base salary and performance incentives. J.B. Bickerstaff slammed the structure as a “slap in the face” to coaches, a comment Nori dismissed after a brief chat with the NBA coaches’ union president. Cronin insisted Portland hired the coach it wanted, regardless of financial terms.

Nori highlighted the Blazers’ recent playoff berth, a 42‑40 record under interim coach Tiago Splitter, and the return of Damian Lillard, the NBA’s fourth‑all‑time three‑point shooter, from an Achilles injury. He vowed the squad will “play hard, play smart, play together” for a full 48‑minute stretch. With a roster poised for a deeper run, Portland now seeks to translate that resolve into a winning postseason.