The Trail Blazers to have published a press release the assistants who will be part of the new head coach have been officially announced Mika NoriHeadquarters for the 2026/27 season.
The two most notable newcomers were earlier reported and were confirmed today by the team. There is one Jay Trianoa longtime NBA assistant who was a head coach in Toronto and Phoenix, and another Mike Williamsa former Jazz assistant who interviewed for the head coaching job before Portland decided to hire Nori.
Nora’s first job as an NBA assistant coach was as a member of Triano’s staff with the Raptors.
In addition, the Blazers took over several coaches who previously worked for them Chauncey Billups and Tiago Splitter. Quinton Crawford will return for a second season as an assistant coach; Gilbert Abraham will also be an assistant under Nora as he enters his third season as the team’s director of player development; and Leron Blackwho joined the Blazers last summer as a player development coach, was also promoted to assistant.
meanwhile, Pooh Jeter – a former G League Ignite teammate of Scoot Henderson – will spend his fourth season as Portland’s player development coach, and Jason Luhnow becomes the full-time player development coach after previously serving as the team’s video coordinator and player development assistant.
Ken Smart (video coordinator/player development coach), You are Vitka (assistant video coordinator), John Townsend (shooting coach), and Jacob Mooallem (analytics coach) are also sticking with the organization under Nora after being hired in previous seasons.
Perhaps the most notable change announced today by the Blazers involves a veteran assistant Nate Bjorkgrenwho was a senior lieutenant under Billups and Splitter and led the team’s defense last season. Bjorkgren will remain with the organization, but will transition into a new role as special assistant to the coaching staff and basketball operations.
Norrie will be under some pressure to return the Blazers to the postseason after the team ends a four-year playoff drought in 2026. Portland’s new head coach signed a contract that reportedly includes only one guaranteed season, along with multiple team options and incentives based on the club’s performance.