Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori has been linked to the Chicago Bulls' vacant head coach position since the search began. Now that he's advanced to the in-person interview stage, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: Nori was the answer from the start.
Chicago's search is nearing a conclusion, according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (subscription required) as three coaches are scheduled to meet with decision-makers in person: Nori, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Tiago Splitter and Atlanta Hawks assistant Ryan Schmidt.
Splitter and Schmidt are intriguing candidates who would bring different skill sets to a long-overdue rebuild. But Nori's background, NBA experience, unique personality and contributions to a championship contender in Minnesota give him an advantage and, ultimately, should give him the job.
Bulls to interview Nori, Splitter, Schmidt for head coach vacancy
Splitter has a unique resume. The 41-year-old won a championship as a player under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio, won a title as the head coach of Paris Basketball in France's top professional league and has coached the Brazilian National Team.
He was abruptly forced into action in Portland after Chauncey Billups was arrested just one game into last season. It was, needless to say, an awkward moment to land your first NBA head coaching gig.
But the Trail Blazers overachieved under Splitter, earning the No. 7 seed in the West, defeating the Phoenix Suns in a play-in game and beating the Spurs on the road in Game 2 of their first-round series before ultimately falling to the Western Conference champions.
Schmidt worked under new Bulls executive VP of basketball operations, Bryson Graham, in Atlanta last year. He was previously a head coach in the G League and the British Basketball League before joining Quin Snyder's staff full-time in 2024.
But Nori has a longer resume, deeper experience and would give the Bulls what they need as they jumpstart a franchise reset.
Micah Nori should be the Chicago Bulls' next head coach
No disrespect to Schmidt or Splitter, but Nori is more prepared to be Chicago's next head coach. He has 25 years of NBA experience and has been Chris Finch's lead assistant with the Timberwolves since 2021.
Over that span, Minnesota has made the playoffs five times and advanced to the conference finals twice (2023-24, 2024-25). Nori has played a key role in the developments of Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels and helped Rudy Gobert win his fourth Defensive Player of the Year Award.
When Finch injured his knee during the 2024 playoffs, it was Nori who stepped in and led the Wolves to a series victory over the Denver Nuggets. He interviewed with the Lakers and Knicks the last few offseasons and is also a finalist to take over for Splitter in Portland.
And imagine this coming to the Windy City:
The Bulls are starting over from scratch and building a young roster that will need the right type of leadership. Nori is the most qualified candidate to give them that; he has been since the beginning.
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