Micah Nori has been an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves for the last five seasons. That comes after assistant coaching jobs with four other teams. The 52-year-old has had a coaching role in the NBA every year since 2009.
Well-regarded by the team and throughout the league for his endless work over those 17 years, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there is interest in him as a team's head coach. Marc Stein of The Stein Line wrote about it in his latest report,
“League sources tell The Stein Line that the Blazers, meanwhile, have expressed interest in Minnesota assistant coach Micah Nori.”
Is this the year Nori gets his head coaching opportunity?
Nori linked to the Trail Blazers, not his first time being a candidate for a head coaching job
Now, Stein doesn’t say that the Trail Blazers have zeroed in on bringing in Nori. He mentions other assistant coaches that Portland is interested in, such as Jared Dudley (Denver Nuggets), Steve Hetzel (Brooklyn Nets), and Greg St. Jean (Los Angeles Lakers).
Stein also writes that Terry Stotts is interested in coming back to Portland after he was their head coach from 2012-13 until 2020-21. Stotts left his Golden State Warriors assistant coach position not too long ago with the belief that he was looking to become a head coach again.
The Trail Blazers have a head coach opening because they spent the past season with an interim (Tiago Splitter). He seemingly did an admirable job, taking the post just one game into the regular season due to off-the-court issues for former head coach Chauncey Billups.
Portland reached the playoffs, but they evidently aren’t looking to retain Splitter as the permanent head coach in large part due to their desire to pay a coach well below market value. Given how long Nori has waited to earn a head coaching position, it's possible that he'll be willing to sacrifice some money.
Nori has been linked to other head coaching vacancies in the past. He interviewed with the New York Knicks last offseason (New York also was denied an interview request with Chris Finch), but the job ultimately went to Mike Brown instead. The previous offseason saw him as a candidate for the Los Angeles Lakers job, but JJ Redick got the position.
In his time with Minnesota, Nori has become someone that the fan base has grown endeared to. He provides entertaining quips during sideline interviews and has proven to be a tireless worker who provides detailed game plans for the opponent.
While it would be disappointing to see him leave his role with the Timberwolves, Nori deserves a head coaching job.
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