One of the biggest surprises throughout round one of the NBA playoffs has been how easily the Minnesota Timberwolves have dealt with the Denver Nuggets. With Minnesota leading that series 3-1 and coming off back-to-back conference finals appearances, the Timberwolves' lead assistant Micah Nori’s case to be a head coach is only growing stronger. Nori has been on Chris Finch’s staff since 2021 and has been an assistant in the NBA since 2009.
Nori has been linked to the New Orleans Pelicans’ head coaching vacancy in a report from Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson. Robinson reported that Nori is ‘gaining traction’ as a candidate.
Following a major update from The Stein Line on the Pelicans’ coaching search, four new candidates were revealed, but Nori was not among them. This is somewhat surprising, as not only have Nori and the Timberwolves had incredible success this postseason, but he also could check a ton of boxes for an inexperienced Pelicans core.
Pelicans shouldn’t overlook Micah Nori as a candidate
Nori would bring a fresh spark to a Pelicans team that is in need of some juice. Throughout his time with the Timberwolves, Nori has become known for his humorous personality and being an energetic voice from the sidelines. He’s also a players' coach, which young teams like New Orleans are often more receptive to.
Nori has a track record of developing players, going back to his time with the Nuggets. During his time as an assistant with Denver from 2015-2018, Nori played a role in the breakout and development of Nikola Jokic. With Derik Queen possessing tools similar to a young Jokic, having Nori come in and lead his development could be very beneficial.
During his time in Minnesota, Nori has become known for his defensive schemes, which has been a huge factor in the Wolves' round one dominance of Denver. For a Pelicans team that lacks elite defensive personnel, a defensive-minded coach may not look like an obvious fit on paper. However, it could help offset things and give this group someone who can navigate how to maximize this defense.
Over the past couple of offseasons, Nori has been linked to plenty of head coaching openings, including the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, and, most recently, the New York Knicks. But as he and the Timberwolves continue to find postseason success, he’s only going to become a hotter and hotter candidate around the league. If Joe Dumars and the Pelicans are focused on building a winning culture, they shouldn’t look further than Nori.
He has a strong personality, a winning track record, and a history of developing young talent, and the longer they wait, the greater the risk they run of losing out on a great coach.
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