The Portland Trail Blazers are expected to name Micah Nori as their new head coach, with the deal reportedly finalized just hours before the 2026 draft. That means Deni Avdija will have a new coach heading into next season, as Portland looks to take another step forward in the Western Conference.
Nori has spent the past five years as Chris Finch’s lead assistant in Minnesota and is regarded as one of the NBA’s most respected assistants. According to reports in the United States, he will sign a multiyear contract in Portland and take a head-coaching job in the league for the first time in his career. Portland conducted an extensive search that included more than 10 candidates, eventually narrowing in on Nori because of his communication skills and his ability to build relationships with players.
The final candidates also included Boston assistant Tyler Lashbrook and Tiago Splitter, who briefly coached Portland last season and was named Chicago’s coach last week. Nori arrives after a highly successful stretch in Minnesota, where the Timberwolves posted the NBA’s fifth-best record over his five seasons on the staff, reached the playoffs five times, and advanced to the Western Conference finals in back-to-back years.
During the 2024 playoffs, he also handled a significant share of game management while Finch recovered from a knee injury. The hire comes at an important moment for Portland, which is expected to get Damian Lillard back for the regular season and try to build a competitive team around him, Jrue Holiday, and Avdija. Last season, under Splitter, the Blazers finished 40-42, beat Phoenix in the play-in tournament, and were eliminated in the first round by San Antonio.
