PORTLAND — The Portland Trail Blazers‘ links to Houston Rockets assistant Ben Sullivan have quickly gone from background noise to something that feels genuinely believable. In a coaching market where Portland appears to be balancing ambition with a calculator permanently open on the desktop, Sullivan checks a lot of boxes. He’s respected around the league, comes from multiple winning environments and, perhaps most importantly for a franchise trying to maximize every dollar under Blazers owner Tom Dundon, he would likely come far cheaper than an established veteran coach. That part hasn’t exactly been subtle lately.
NBA Champion Ben Sullivan Emerges As Perfect Fit For Blazers Owner Tom Dundon’s Vision
Michael Scotto of Hoopshype wrote on X: “The Blazers interviewed Rockets assistant Ben Sullivan for their head coaching job. He interviewed for the Suns last summer. He’s been an assistant for Ime Udoka (Rockets/Celtics), Joe Mazzulla and Mike Budenholzer (Bucks/Hawks). He played for the University of Portland.”
Sources: The Blazers interviewed Rockets assistant Ben Sullivan for their head coaching job. He interviewed for the Suns last summer. He’s been an assistant for Ime Udoka (Rockets/Celtics), Joe Mazzulla and Mike Budenholzer (Bucks/Hawks). He played for the University of Portland. pic.twitter.com/ouNkV0yrf5
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) May 8, 2026
The Trail Blazers Ben Sullivan links have quickly gone from background noise to something that feels genuinely believable. In a coaching market where Portland appears to be balancing ambition with a calculator permanently open on the desktop, Sullivan checks a lot of boxes. He’s respected around the league, comes from multiple winning environments and, perhaps most importantly for a franchise trying to maximize every dollar under Tom Dundon, he would likely come far cheaper than an established veteran coach. That part hasn’t exactly been subtle lately.
The Trail Blazers made the playoffs for the first time in five years after finishing 42-40 under interim head coach Tiago Splitter. But making the playoffs and becoming a serious Western Conference threat are two very different things. Portland fans know this already. They’ve spent the better part of the last decade living somewhere between “fun League Pass team” and “one injury away from existential dread.” With Damian Lillard expected to return from his Achilles injury next season, the next Trail Blazers coach will immediately inherit pressure to build something sustainable around a roster that finally looks competitive again.
Ben Sullivan’s Reputation Has Quietly Become Elite Around The League
Sullivan’s coaching résumé is deeper than many realize. Before becoming one of the more respected assistant coaches in basketball, he started as a video coordinator with the San Antonio Spurs in 2012 under Gregg Popovich. That alone is basically basketball graduate school. From there, Sullivan joined Mike Budenholzer in Atlanta, working with the Atlanta Hawks from 2014 through 2018 before following Budenholzer again to Milwaukee.
He was part of the Milwaukee Bucks coaching staff that won the 2021 NBA championship, earning a reputation as one of the league’s best developmental assistants. Around the NBA, Sullivan has become particularly known for helping players improve their shooting mechanics and offensive efficiency. Multiple players across different organizations have credited him for rebuilding their jumper from the ground up. In today’s NBA, that skill almost feels like having a mechanic who can fix Formula One cars with duct tape and a flashlight. Everybody wants one.
After Milwaukee, Sullivan joined Ime Udoka in Boston for the 2021-22 season, helping the Boston Celtics reach the NBA Finals. He then remained on staff under Joe Mazzulla before eventually joining Udoka again in Houston with the Rockets. Everywhere Sullivan has gone, two things have usually followed: defensive structure and noticeable player development. That’s not accidental anymore. That’s a pattern.
For Portland, this is where the fit starts becoming obvious. Scoot Henderson still needs refinement as a scorer. Shaedon Sharpe’s offensive ceiling remains ridiculously high. Donovan Clingan’s development could define the next era of Blazers basketball. A developmental coach with championship experience suddenly becomes a very attractive option. The Trail Blazers Coach search may not have a glamorous frontrunner, but Sullivan feels increasingly aligned with what this organization is trying to become.
Tom Dundon’s Financial Strategy Could Push Portland Toward Sullivan
The elephant in the room here is Dundon. Or perhaps the accountant in the room. Depends how charitable you’re feeling.
Reports around the league have consistently suggested Dundon wants Portland’s next head coach to come at a reduced price compared to standard NBA coaching salaries. Multiple reports have linked the franchise to a figure around $1 million to $1.5 million annually, well below the average NBA head coach salary, which usually sits closer to $4 million.
That financial reality has shaped Portland’s search. Established names such as Tom Thibodeau and Michael Malone, the latter now the head coach of the NCAA’s North Carolina Tar Heels, reportedly showed little interest in the opening. Meanwhile, Portland has cast an unusually wide net that includes assistants, former players and developmental coaches. Other reported candidates include the incumbent Splitter, Denver Nuggets assistant coach Jared Dudley, and Brooklyn Nets assistant coach Steve Hetzel.
This is where Sullivan makes sense again. He’s highly respected but still looking for his first head coaching opportunity. Portland can sell him on roster upside, Lillard’s return, a playoff-caliber team and long-term security without necessarily breaking the bank. That combination may genuinely matter more than people think.
And honestly, there’s logic to Portland targeting assistants from winning organizations instead of chasing the biggest available name. The Celtics, Bucks, Spurs and Rockets all speak highly of Sullivan’s basketball mind. Coaches with that background tend to enter jobs with fully formed systems rather than spending two years figuring things out publicly while fans age in dog years watching defensive rotations collapse.
Championship Experience Could Be Exactly What Portland Needs
One thing Portland noticeably lacked during parts of this season was postseason composure. The talent was there. The athleticism was there. The consistency absolutely was not. There were stretches where the Blazers defended like a playoff team followed immediately by possessions where everyone appeared to be reacting to a different basketball game entirely.
That’s why Sullivan’s championship pedigree matters. He has worked under Budenholzer, Udoka, Mazzulla and Popovich. Few assistant coaches can claim experience under that many successful systems. Even fewer have built a reputation as both a tactician and player-development specialist.
The Trail Blazers-Ben Sullivan links also feel different because this doesn’t come across as a desperation swing. It feels targeted. Portland clearly wants a younger coach who can grow with the roster while implementing structure immediately. Sullivan fits that timeline almost perfectly.
When Lillard returns healthy and Portland’s young core takes another leap, this suddenly becomes one of the more interesting teams in the Western Conference. Sullivan would still face enormous pressure as a first-year head coach, especially following a 42-win season, but the infrastructure around him would be far healthier than most rookie coaches inherit.
As for Dundon, hiring Sullivan may represent the sweet spot between affordability and upside. In this market, that appears to matter just as much as résumé size. The Trail Blazers coaching search continues, but Portland may already be circling the candidate who makes the most sense.
Credit:© Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
