The Portland Trail Blazers have hired Micah Nori as their new head coach. Nori, formerly an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves, is known for his positive spirit and player development expertise.
Who is Micah Nori?
Micah Nori has been an assistant coach in the NBA since the 2009-10 season, working with the Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings, and Denver Nuggets. He is known for his infectious positive spirit and coaching style, which revolves around having deep connections with players while being truthful. Nori's tenure with the Timberwolves lasted from 2021 to 2026, where he worked under Coach Chris Finch.
What makes Nori the 'Ted Lasso' of the NBA?
Nori's coaching style and positive spirit have drawn comparisons to Ted Lasso, the famously optimistic soccer coach played by Jason Sudeikis. He is known for dropping hilarious quips loaded with pop culture references during interviews. Some of his notable lines include: 'We got to treat Desmond Bane like you do the elf on a shelf on Christmas morning. You’ve got to find him,' and 'Our paint defense was like 7/11, open 24 hours.'
How will Nori impact the Trail Blazers?
Nori's hiring is expected to bring a positive impact to the Trail Blazers, particularly in the development of their young players like Donovan Clingan, Scoot Henderson, and Deni Avdija. He will also work with veteran players like Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday to compete for a Larry O'Brien trophy. The Trail Blazers' last result was a 125-112 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on 2025-01-29. | Stat | Value | | --- | --- | | Last result | Portland Trail Blazers 125-112 Milwaukee Bucks | | Date | 2025-01-29 |
What comes next for the Trail Blazers?
With Nori at the helm, the Trail Blazers are expected to have a strong season, building on their previous performances. Nori's coaching style and expertise will be crucial in developing the team's young players and competing for a playoff spot. The Trail Blazers will look to Nori to bring his positive spirit and coaching expertise to the team, and to lead them to success in the upcoming season.