"This is a slap in the face to all of us, not just him!" NBA in uproar as coaches revolt: "It's regrettable..."

Pulse Sports Team 06:52 - 25 June 2026

The contract of new Portland Trail Blazers coach Micah Nori has stirred significant controversy in the world's premier basketball league. Portland's new owner effectively removed Tiago Splitter from the head coach position, and Micah Nori, a long-time assistant with various teams, has now become the Trail Blazers' head coach for the first time.

Nori signed a three-year contract, but its structure is unprecedented in NBA history. His deal with Portland includes only one guaranteed year, with the second and third years being team options, similar to player options. This means he could be out of a job after just this season if the team declines his option and terminates the agreement.

His salary is below average, and he can only reach a figure comparable to other coaches through bonuses, as reported by ESPN Mozzarsport. This entire situation, particularly the contract's structure and the aforementioned salary, prompted a strong reaction from J.B. Bickerstaff, president of the NBA Coaches Association.

Bickerstaff also happens to be last season's top coach and the head coach of the Detroit Pistons.

- I understand his entire journey to this coaching position, and I won't diminish this special moment for him and his family. This is a job he earned and deserves. That's paramount, but it appears he's entering a situation he shouldn't have to, forced to accept this contract structure. It's regrettable when someone achieves their dream, and from our perspective, it looks like someone is exploiting that dream and devaluing what coaches have built over years.

Years of hard work, development, and contributions within the NBA are overlooked when contracts like this emerge.

- All the effort and everything coaches do in this league is fantastic, but then someone comes along and tries to diminish that value; it's extremely disappointing. This changes team dynamics. The question becomes how to maintain discipline when players see that their coach is easily replaceable. Most owners understand the value of a good coach and are willing to pay for it, but this... This is a slap in the face to all of us - concludes the head of the coaches' association.

Portland declined to comment on the situation, as did Bret Just, Nori's agent, who also represents Bickerstaff.