Trail Blazers Coach Assigned Hemingway Novella
Micah Nori gifted his staff The Old Man and the Sea to improve their communication skills with players.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Books
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In August 2026, Portland Trail Blazers coach Micah Nori distributed copies of Ernest Hemingway's 1952 novella The Old Man and the Sea to his coaching staff. Nori implemented the reading requirement to encourage concise communication with players who have shorter attention spans.
Why it matters
The team hopes that adopting a sparse, Hemingway-esque prose style will help staff members deliver clearer instructions. Nori aims to prevent rambling during practice sessions to ensure information is effectively processed by younger NBA players.
The novella spans 82 pages, and Nori utilized a 10-question multiple choice quiz to test staff comprehension. The quiz followed an earlier purchasing decision where Nori opted for a $33 version of the book rather than a $33,000 signed copy.
The players
Micah Nori
He is the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and has spent 28 years around the NBA.
Mike Williams
He is a coach for the Portland Trail Blazers who scored nine out of 10 on the staff quiz.
Jay Triano
He is a coach for the Portland Trail Blazers who scored eight out of 10 on the staff quiz.
Chris Finch
He is a professional basketball coach under whom Micah Nori served as an assistant for five seasons.
The details
During the first week of training camp, Nori administered the pop quiz to test his staff's grasp of the Pulitzer Prize-winning text. Nori also enforces high standards on the court, famously stopping a six-minute practice scrimmage after only three minutes following a series of turnovers and missed assignments.
Timeline
August 2026 was when the books were gifted during the first staff meeting.
The first week of training camp 2026 featured the administration of a pop quiz.
The week of October 6, 2026, included a practice stoppage during the preseason.
Industry Dynamics
By leveraging the literary legacy of the 1953 Pulitzer Prize-winning work The Old Man and the Sea, the Blazers are experimenting with unconventional professional development methods. This approach marks a departure from traditional sports coaching tactics in the increasingly competitive NBA landscape.
Fans can monitor the effectiveness of these communication strategies during the upcoming season as the team navigates competitive play. The results of the practice adjustments will be reflected in game performance, such as the 21 turnovers recorded in the preseason opener.
The takeaway
Nori believes that concise communication is essential for maintaining focus during intense training sessions. Improving clarity may help the staff reduce turnovers and ensure players remain disciplined throughout the 82-game season.
Further reading
For more on literary trends, visit Books.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The New York Times.
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