Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Jan 11, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves acting head coach Micah Nori looks on against the San Antonio Spurs in the first half at Target Center.
After a lengthy search, the Portland Trail Blazers officially have a new head coach in the form of the former Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori.
On the surface, it looks like a reasonable hire. Nori has over a decade of NBA coaching experience and was most recently the lead assistant on a team with championship aspirations.
But when you dig a bit deeper, you begin to understand why NBA coaches, as well as J.B. Bickerstaff, the president of the National Basketball Coaches Association, aren’t exactly thrilled with the deal.
J.B. Bickerstaff And NBA Coaches Are Furious Over Blazers’ Deal With Micah Nori
Nori’s contract in Portland, which has faced immense scrutiny over its alleged cheapness under new owner, Tom Dundon, is for just one season, with team options in both the second and third year.
It’s unlike any other deal for a coach across the league, and Bickerstaff is furious.
“I understand his story and his journey to get to the spot where he was able to get this opportunity, and I don’t want to take away from what should be a special moment for him, for his family, and a job that’s well deserved and earned,” he told ESPN.
“…But I feel like he was put in a situation that he shouldn’t be put in with having to make a choice of this nature, because of the structure of what the contract is. It’s unfortunate that you have a dream, and from our perspective, it’s like someone’s taking advantage of your dream and devaluing what we feel like coaches have earned over the years.
“You think about the sacrifice, the time, the growth that coaches have helped and done with the NBA, and then for someone to come in and attempt to devalue the work that coaches have in this league is extremely disappointing.”
But Bickerstaff isn’t the only one angry. Several coach expressed their frustration with The Athletic, fearing that Nori’s deal would set a troubling precedent.
So, what do you think? Did Nori just ruin things for coaches across the NBA? Or are Bickerstaff and company just overreacting? Let us know in the comments below!