The Portland Trail Blazers ended a four-year playoff drought this past season and finished with their best regular-season campaign this decade. But it doesn’t appear that interim coach Tiago Splitter will get the full-time gig.
Trail Blazers Owner Not A “Big Fan” Of One Coaching Candidate
Splitter took over the reins of the Trail Blazers following Chauncey Billups’ arrest on gambling charges, and did a fantastic job managing the ship. The Trail Blazers went 42-39 under Spliter, finishing eighth in the Western Conference. The Blazers defeated the Phoenix Suns in the 7th-8th place Play-In Game and then took a game from the San Antonio Spurs in their first-round series.
Portland’s 42 wins were the most since winning the same amount in the Covid-shortened 2020-21 campaign, which was the last time the Trail Blazers made the playoffs, and most for a full season since winning 53 games in 2018-19. The Trail Blazers had several key players miss time due to injury, including Damian Lillard, who was out all season, while Matisse Thybulle and Scoot Henderson played in only 30 contests. All totaled, only four Blazers played in at least 60 games.
“He [Splitter] commanded real respect from various counterparts on opposing coaching staffs for how he handled such a challenging season,” NBA Insider Jake Fischer wrote.
Overall, Portland was only 20th in offensive efficiency, as it was one of the worst shooting teams in the league. The Trail Blazers finished 29th in field goal percentage (45.3%), 28th in 3-point percentage (34.3%), and 24th in free throw percentage (76.5). While they also committed the most turnovers in the league (17.3 a game), they did an excellent job of hitting the offensive glass.
Defensively, Portland was in the middle of the pack. The Trail Blazers finished 14th in defensive rating and 16th in field goal percentage. While the Blazers did a pretty good job defending the 3-point line, they were 15th in 3-point percentage. They also did a good job not fouling and protecting the rim.
On the plus side, Deni Avdija developed into an All-Star. Shaedon Sharpe continued his growth, and Donovan Clingan, who led the NBA in offensive rebounds, finished with a double-double. Meanwhile, Jeremi Grant and Jrue Holiday bounced back from a disappointing 2024-25 campaign
Tiago Splitter Still Candidate For Job, Not Favorite
Splitter is a candidate for the Trail Blazers ‘ full-time gig. Splitter played seven years in the NBA, spending five seasons in San Antonio. He joined the Brooklyn Nets staff in 2020, focusing on player development, and spent three seasons there. He then moved on to Ime Udoka’s staff in Houston for one campaign (2023-24) before being named head coach of French club Paris Basketball for the 2024-25 season.
However, Splitter and the new Trail Blazers owner, Tom Dundon, have a strained relationship. According to Brett Siegel on the ClutchScoops Podcast, Spitter was offered the job on a full-time basis at below-market value.
“Sources tell us that it is not a positive relationship,” said Siegel. “Tiago Splitter’s relationship with ownership is basically split at this point. They lowballed him on an offer before the season ended to become their next head coach. It was well below the league’s worth and the market value for what he could get from another team. It does seem like Tiago Splitter and the Portland Trail Blazers are gonna be heading down seperate roads.”
Moreover, Kurt Helin of NBC Sports reported yesterday that there is a belief that Dundon isn’t a “big fan” of Splitter and is looking seriously at other candidates. Everything you need to know about Dundon’s feelings toward Splitter will be revealed if he allows the Chicago Bulls to interview him for their head coach opening. Despite there not being a decision on his future with the organization, Splitter is still technically under contract with the Blazers.
Who Is The Best Candidate For The Trail Blazers job?
Besides Splitter, the Trail Blazers are reportedly considering four NBA assistants: Micah Nori, Jared Dudley (Nuggets), Greg St. Jean (Lakers), and Brooklyn’s Steve Hetzel. Dudley and Houston assistant coach Ben Sullivan have received interviews, though the Blazers could interview 20 or more candidates.
Micah Nori
Nori is a highly thought of veteran assistant who has been a head coaching candidate for several seasons. Nori has been an NBA assistant since 2009 and has spent the last five seasons as the lead assistant with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The 52-year-old is an excellent communicator who relates well to players and has experience with stars as well as extensive playoff experience. While Nori hasn’t officially been a head coach, he has been in the first chair during the 2024 All-Star Rising Star Challenge and took over for the Timberwolves during the 2024 playoffs following Chris Finch’s injury. Considered an offensive genius, Nori guided the Wolves to the Western Conference finals in 2024
Jared Dudley
Dudley, who played 14 years in the NBA, stepped into his role as an assistant coach immediately after retiring. He joined Jason Kidd’s staff in 2021, where he spent four seasons before moving on to Denver before the start of this season, where he was the Nuggets’ lead assistant.
Dudley is considered a modern rising coach known for developing player relationships and a high basketball IQ. The Mavericks made the NBA Finals in 2024 and the Western Conference Finals in 2022 with Dudley on staff.
Greg St. Jean
St. Jean, the son of former NBA coach Gary St. Jean, has been in the NBA since 2013. St. Jean started his coaching career as a video coordinator in 2013-14, then moved into a player development coach role the very next season. He got his first assistant gig with St. John’s (2015-2019) while also working with the Los Angeles Lakers (2019-21, 2024-present), Dallas (2021-23), and the Phoenix Suns (2023-24).
Steve Hetzel
Hetzel is another rising assistant with ties to the Blazers. He began as a player development coach in 2009, where he remained until 2013. He was then named the head coach of the Canton Charge in 2013-14, posting a 28-22 record, before returning to the Association. Additionally, he has been an assistant with Charlotte, Orlando, Portland (2021-24), and Brooklyn (2024-present).
Besides his ties to the Blazers, Hetzel is a candidate due to his strong player development and his work in system-driven organizations. In addition, he has worked with head coaches with varying philosophies, giving him a broad base.
Ben Sullivan
Sullivan has been an NBA assistant since 2014. While Sullivan has worked for four organizations, he has mainly served under two head coaches: Mike Budenholzer and Ime Udoka. He has a strong reputation as a shooting and skill development specialist with experience with some of the top offensive talents in the game.
With heavy Budenholzer influence, Sullivan’s offensive philosophy would center around spacing, pace, and decision-making. Similarly, he is expected to emphasize rim protection on defense.
Last Word
It doesn’t appear that the Trail Blazers’ job search will conclude anytime soon. Therefore, there could be other unknown candidates. However, Dudley should be the favorite to get the job if the Blazers indeed decide to move on from Splitter.
