Triano Back with Blazers
Jay Triano Brings Decades of NBA Experience, Reunites with Nori as Blazers Assistant
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Key Points
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Triano's prior Portland tenure (2012-2016) included a 54-28 regular-season record, three playoff berths, two 50-win seasons, and a postseason victory over the Houston Rockets behind Damian Lillard's game-winner.
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Triano helped elevate Micah Nori early in Nori's coaching career in Toronto, promoting him to his first assistant coaching job in 2008; now Triano is rejoining Nori as part of Portland's staff.
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Triano also served as Canada’s national team head coach from 1998 to 2004, adding an international-royalty dimension to his résumé before his NBA coaching career.
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Nori has already begun stacking his staff with veteran experience, including hiring Mike Williams from the Utah Jazz and reportedly considering veteran assistant Ryan Bowen to join the Blazers.
Jay Triano is returning to Portland. The veteran NBA coach has agreed to join the Trail Blazers as an assistant under first-year head coach Micah Nori, according to OregonLive and Blazers Edge. The move reunites Triano with Damian Lillard, whom he helped develop during a previous Blazers stint that lasted four seasons.
Triano brings more than two decades of NBA coaching experience to Portland. He has served as a head coach with the Toronto Raptors and Phoenix Suns. He is also the NBA's first Canadian-born head coach. Now he joins a staff built around one of the league's most talent-loaded backcourts.
Triano's First Portland Run Delivered Big Results
Triano served as a Blazers assistant from 2012 to 2016. In that stretch, Portland posted a 54-28 regular-season record in its best year and made the playoffs three times. The team also put together two 50-win seasons. One of the most memorable moments came when Lillard hit a buzzer-beater to eliminate the Houston Rockets in the postseason, according to OregonLive.
That history matters now. Lillard is back in Portland after his stint in Milwaukee. Having Triano in his corner again gives the star guard a familiar voice in his ear. Blazers Edge noted the reunion adds a trusted offensive mind to Nori's staff at a key moment for the franchise.
A Mentor Becomes a Colleague Under Nori
The dynamic between Triano and Nori flips a familiar script. Triano was the one who gave Nori his first assistant coaching job back in 2008 with the Toronto Raptors. Now Nori is the head coach, and Triano is joining his staff. Yahoo Sports called it a full-circle moment for both coaches.
Triano later served as Toronto's head coach from 2008 to 2011. He also led the Phoenix Suns in 2017-18. Before his NBA head coaching career, he ran Canada's national team from 1998 to 2004. That international experience adds yet another layer to his résumé, according to TalkBasket.
Nori Stacks His Staff With Veteran Experience
Triano is not the only experienced addition to Nori's bench. Portland also hired Mike Williams away from the Utah Jazz. The team is reportedly considering veteran assistant Ryan Bowen as well, according to Herald and News. Nori is clearly building a staff heavy on NBA knowledge.
That experience will be tested right away. Portland's backcourt now includes Lillard, Jrue Holiday, Ja Morant, and Scoot Henderson. Fitting all those guards into one rotation is a real puzzle. Triano's veteran voice could help Nori make tough decisions about minutes and lineup fit night to night.
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