The Portland Trail Blazers have appointed Micah Nori as their new head coach, effectively concluding Chauncey Billups' tenure with the franchise. The hiring was announced on Tuesday following the departure of interim coach Tiago Splitter, who left to take the head coaching position with the Chicago Bulls.
Nori joins the Western Conference club after serving as an assistant with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Billups, who originally took over the Blazers in 2021, has been on leave since October. The team secured a playoff berth this year for the first time since 2021 before placing Billups on administrative leave.
Legal Proceedings and Poker Indictment
Billups, a 49-year-old five-time NBA All-Star, has been absent from team operations since his arrest last fall. A federal grand jury indicted 31 defendants in a gambling scheme involving sophisticated cheating devices, including x-ray technology and specialized contact lenses. Prosecutors state that the group defrauded victims of at least $7 million through the underground poker games.
While not accused of direct cheating, Billups faces charges of money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy. Federal prosecutors describe him as a "face card" used to attract participants to the games. According to court filings, he received a $50,000 wire transfer from a co-conspirator following a game in October 2020.
Billups made an appearance at a Brooklyn federal courthouse on June 10 for a status conference, maintaining his not guilty plea. With trial dates approaching in the coming months, it is highly probable that he will not resume coaching duties for the start of the 2026-27 season.