It was in June, during one of Nori’s interviews with the Blazers, when Nori was tasked with making a presentation of how he would run the Blazers. Plays. Substitution patterns. Rotations. Lineup combinations. The Blazers wanted to hear his whole pitch.
Thirty minutes before the interview, general manager Joe Cronin informed Nori that Lillard, the star who will be returning to the team after missing last season rehabilitating his torn left Achilles, would be sitting in on the interview.
As the franchise’s all-time leading scorer listened, Nori gave his presentation, which included starting Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson at guard. Nori had not been given any inside information or health updates on Lillard, so he had Lillard coming off the bench and playing around 24 minutes.
The room went silent, until Lillard broke the tension.
“Huh,” Nori remembered Lillard saying. “Twenty-four minutes?”
Nori, who is hailed for his ability to connect with players using a joking and colloquial style, shot back.
“I haven’t seen you dribble in 14 months, b—-!” Nori remembered saying.
