Micah Nori to Remain Timberwolves Assistant as Suns Search Continues

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Micah Nori, a highly regarded assistant coach in the NBA, will return to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the upcoming season. Nori had been a candidate for the Phoenix Suns‘ head coach position, raising concerns among Timberwolves fans about his potential departure.

Recently, the Suns named their five finalists for the vacant head coach role. Nori’s competition includes Chris Quinn of the Miami Heat, Dave Bliss of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Sean Sweeney of the Dallas Mavericks, and Johnnie Bryant of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

As other teams like the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies filled their head coach vacancies by promoting interim coaches, no additional head coaching positions remain available in the league. This situation positions Nori to stay with the Timberwolves as their lead assistant for another year.

Nori has been an assistant in the NBA since 2009 and has served as the Timberwolves’ lead assistant since 2021. Known for building strong relationships with players, Nori has earned respect from star players who have praised his coaching abilities.

His reputation was solidified during the Timberwolves’ playoff run in 2024, when he took over coaching duties in the team’s first-round series and led them to the Western Conference Finals. Nori’s effective coaching style emphasizes both creative offensive strategies and solid defensive play.

“Having Micah back will certainly benefit us,” said Timberwolves General Manager. His wealth of experience and ability to connect with players continues to make him an invaluable asset to the organization.

While Nori remains a top candidate for a head coaching position in the future, he will contribute his skills and knowledge to Minnesota for at least one more season. Fans and management alike are thankful to have him on the coaching staff as they prepare for the upcoming NBA season.