Portland has named Micah Nori as its new head coach, giving Deni Avdija a new sideline boss, according to a report published in the United States overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday. Nori replaces Tiago Splitter, who had served as interim coach and recently joined Chicago.
The 52-year-old Nori signed a one-year deal with team options for two more seasons. The promotion is a major step after nearly 30 years in NBA roles as an assistant coach, scout and front-office executive. He has worked in Toronto, Sacramento, Denver, Detroit and Minnesota, and is widely regarded as one of the league’s most respected assistants.
Portland enters the 2026/27 season after a surprising and successful year, finishing 40-42 and reaching the playoffs as the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed via the play-in tournament. Nori will inherit a young, promising roster led by Avdija and Damian Lillard, who missed last season with an Achilles injury.
In Minnesota, Nori earned praise for his tactical work and game management. Chris Finch called him “an expert in the small details of the game,” citing his handling of rotations, defensive adjustments and pressure situations. Nori also served as Minnesota’s acting head coach on several occasions, including the 2024 playoffs when Finch was unavailable and a big win over San Antonio last season. He had also been a finalist for head-coaching jobs in Chicago and Dallas.
