J.B. Bickerstaff says Micah Nori’s Trail Blazers contract, which reportedly guarantees only 1 year, is ‘slap in the face’ to coaches’ value

Micah Nori’s meticulous climb up the NBA coaching ladder has finally resulted in his first head-coaching opportunity, but the unorthodox contract he reportedly signed with the Portland Trail Blazers has overshadowed the feel-good story of his well-respected basketball journey.

The Athletic’s Jason Quick reported on Tuesday that the 52-year-old Nori, who spent the past five seasons as the Minnesota Timberwolves’ lead assistant, inked a one-year deal with team options for each of the next two seasons.

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On Wednesday, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported the same details of the contract, which most notably includes only one guaranteed year. Also in MacMahon’s report, he reported that Nori’s deal has a below-market base salary, includes team success-based incentives and has drawn immense ire from J.B. Bickerstaff, who’s not only the head coach of the Detroit Pistons but also the president of the National Basketball Coaches Association.

“Most ownership understands that there is value in quality coaching and good coaching, and they’re willing to pay for it,” Bickerstaff told ESPN. “Coaching salaries have been increasing because the league understands and owners understand the value of quality coaching.

“So for a new guy to come in who doesn’t have that understanding and to go out and chop at the knees of coaches is a slap in the face to our value.”

Bickerstaff made it clear to ESPN that he’s thrilled for Nori’s deserved moment but that he’s concerned his contract could set a devaluing precedent for NBA coaches. In other words, Bickerstaff’s placing the blame on the Trail Blazers and, more specifically, the “new guy,” AKA owner Tom Dundon.

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Dundon, who also owns the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, led a group that purchased the Trail Blazers for $4.25 billion, a sale the NBA approved on March 30.

Since he took over the franchise, he’s been scrutinized heavily for his cost-cutting measures. Reports have detailed Portland cutting corners on travel expenses, including not bringing its two-way players on the road for the opening weekend of the playoffs and asking staffers to check out of their…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/jb-bickerstaff-says-micah-noris-trail-blazers-contract-which-reportedly-guarantees-only-1-year-is-slap-in-the-face-to-coaches-value-040906552.html

Author : Andy Backstrom

Publish date : 2026-06-25 04:09:00

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