Micah Nori spent years as the kind of assistant coaches lean on when the game gets messy. He was Chris Finch’s right-hand man with the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2021 to 2026, and his profile rose even higher when he handled sideline duties during Minnesota’s 2024 conference finals run after Finch’s knee injury.
League-wide, he had the reputation of being one of the best assistants around. He also came close to getting a head coaching job in both 2024 and 2025.
The breakthrough finally came this past offseason, when Portland handed him the job. So far, that move looks overdue in the best possible way. The Trail Blazers are 8-3, they’ve beaten the Oklahoma City Thunder twice in a row, and Nori’s fingerprints are all over the start.
Portland’s early success has come with some real uncertainty attached. Before the season, there were questions about whether the Blazers could carry over last year’s success, especially with the rest of the West getting better and the Damian Lillard-Ja Morant pairing looking awkward. Morant has only played in four games because of injury, but Portland still went 3-1 in that stretch.
What Nori has done is make the roster make sense. That’s the job, and he’s doing it well.
His offense has given the Blazers a clear identity: push the pace, make decisions fast, and get downhill to the rim. That approach fits Deni Avdjia’s game, and it has also helped create cleaner looks for Lillard.
Nori has mixed in a lot of misdirection with his screens, which has opened up easier shots across the board. The result: Portland sits third in offensive rating per Cleaning the Glass.
The defense hasn’t been as strong in the numbers, but the energy and structure show up on the floor. The intensity and discipline look a lot like what Minnesota fans got used to seeing from Finch’s teams. Put it together, and Nori has the look of a real Coach of the Year candidate.
None of this should shock people who followed the Timberwolves closely. Assistant coaches can be hard to evaluate from the outside, but Nori carried more responsibility than most. He handled the Wolves’ rotations and late-game play-calling, and he was trusted in ways that went well beyond the usual assistant role.
Anthony Edwards called him a basketball genius. Finch praised him often.
Nori also built strong relationships with players, which mattered just as much as the tactical side. And when Finch was ejected or unavailable, Nori already showed he could run the show, including during the 2024 playoffs and in regular-season games when he had to take over.
The signs were there in Minnesota. He’s just proving them in Portland now. Teams that passed on him before probably wish they had another shot.
In Other News...
Timberwolves Hot Start Is Silencing Two Major Offseason Doubts
The Timberwolves spent the offseason inviting questions, reshaping the roster by moving on from Julius Randle and Naz Reid while bringing in LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga. Early returns have given the front office some cover, at least for now. Minnesota has stressed rebounding from the start, and the effort has shown up in the way Rudy Gobert, Kuminga and Jaden McDaniels have all helped steady the group while the team keeps leaning on a productive ten-man rotation through injuries.
LaMelo Balls fit has been especially important with Anthony Edwards sidelined, because Minnesota needed someone to handle more of the offense without letting the rest of the structure fall apart. So far, the Wolves have managed to stay balanced while sorting out a new hierarchy, and the early chemistry is doing a lot to quiet the concern that the offseason changes would leave them too thin on the glass or too dependent on one star. [Read more 🡒]
Wolves May Have Found Their Formula Without Anthony Edwards
The Timberwolves have pieced together a surprisingly sturdy stretch without Anthony Edwards, winning five of seven and using a four-game run to keep momentum rolling. A big reason has been LaMelo Ball settling into a more aggressive rhythm, giving Minnesota a different kind of offensive engine while Edwards is out.
What stands out most is how much cleaner Balls game has looked as the absence has gone on. His scoring has ticked up, his shot-making has become more efficient, and he has done a better job handling defensive pressure without getting bogged down by foul trouble, all of which has helped the Wolves stay organized and productive on both ends. If this version of Ball keeps showing up, Minnesota may have found a workable formula for the short term, even if the larger question around Edwards remains unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen Clark Is Making Minnesotas Rotation Look Very Different
Jaylen Clarks rise has become one of the more interesting side stories in Minnesota this season, and it has come at a time when the Timberwolves have had to rethink their rotation on the fly. The young wing, who was extended to a three-year contract this summer, has looked far more comfortable offensively, with his three-point shot and overall confidence taking a noticeable step forward. What has stood out is the consistency, not just in games but in practice, where he has carried himself like a player who belongs in a bigger role.
The opportunity opened up when Anthony Edwards knee injury forced Minnesota to lean harder on its depth, and Clark has responded by giving the staff something to consider beyond just short-term cover. His increased minutes have helped accelerate his development, especially on the offensive end, where he no longer looks like a player trying to find his footing. For a Timberwolves team trying to stay steady through a changing lineup, Clarks emergence has made the rotation look a little different than anyone expected a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]