Tiago Splitter's Unexpected Rise: Blazers’ Surging Form Puts Interim Coach in the Spotlight
Let’s be honest-most NBA fans have never had to process the headline “Head Coach Arrested by the FBI.” But in Portland, that’s exactly what happened a few months ago, turning the Trail Blazers’ season-and coaching staff-on its head.
With the sudden exit of their head coach due to involvement in an illegal gambling ring, assistant Tiago Splitter was thrust into the big chair. No warning, no preseason to prep, just a clipboard, a whistle, and a team in flux.
At first, it showed. The Blazers stumbled into the new year six games under .500, and Splitter’s early days were marked by shaky rotations and some head-scratching late-game decisions. It looked like a team trying to find its identity under a coach still figuring out how to manage the chaos.
But here we are, past the halfway point of the season, and something has clicked. The Blazers are suddenly stacking wins, sitting above .500, and charging hard toward the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. The Warriors are in their sights, and Portland is playing like a team that believes it belongs in the playoff conversation.
Winning Ugly, Winning Anyway
Let’s not sugarcoat it-Splitter’s in-game management still has its rough edges. There are still moments where the rotations feel experimental and the late-game strategy raises eyebrows.
But the scoreboard doesn’t lie. The Blazers are winning, and in a league where results often speak louder than process, that matters.
A lot.
Coaching in the NBA isn’t just about drawing up plays or managing minutes-it’s about commanding a locker room, building trust, and keeping players engaged through the grind of an 82-game season. And to Splitter’s credit, he’s done that. This team is playing hard, playing together, and playing with purpose.
From Emergency Fill-In to Legitimate Candidate
Now the front office has a decision to make. Is Tiago Splitter the guy moving forward? Or is this a feel-good midseason run that ends with a handshake and a job well done?
It’s worth remembering: first-year head coaches are rookies too. They make mistakes.
They learn on the fly. And while Splitter’s not a polished product yet, he’s shown he can steer the ship through some serious storms.
He didn’t sign up to be a head coach this season, but he’s handled the role with poise and professionalism-two qualities that don’t always show up in the box score but matter immensely behind the scenes.
Unless the Blazers completely unravel in the second half, it’s hard to argue against giving Splitter a real shot at the job. He’s earned that much. The players are responding, the team is competing, and the results are there.
A Season No One Saw Coming
Think back to September. If someone told you the Blazers would be over .500 in late January-with Caleb Love logging real minutes, Sidy Cissoko starting nearly half the games, and Jrue Holiday missing most of the season-you’d probably assume something wild was happening in Portland.
And you’d be right. Tiago Splitter didn’t just step into a tough situation-he stepped into a near-impossible one. And somehow, he’s made it work.
No one’s saying he’s the next great NBA coach just yet. But given the hand he was dealt, Splitter’s performance has been nothing short of impressive.
The Blazers are back in the playoff hunt. The locker room is locked in.
And Tiago Splitter, once a quiet assistant on the bench, is now front and center in one of the league’s most unexpected storylines.
Portland’s season may have started in chaos, but it’s turning into something worth watching-and Splitter deserves a lot of credit for that.