Former Portland head coach Terry Stotts is interested in returning to the Trail Blazers after stepping away from the Golden State Warriors’ coaching staff, according to longtime NBA reporter Dwight Jaynes.
Jaynes reported on Substack that Stotts informed the Warriors he will not return next season as Steve Kerr’s lead assistant coach. The development immediately created speculation about Portland’s coaching future after the franchise finished 42-40 and reached the Play-In Tournament during the 2025-26 season.
Stotts addressed the possibility directly in a text message to Jaynes.
“I would love to come back to the Blazers and Portland,” Stotts said.
The 68-year-old coached Portland from 2012 through 2021 and remains one of the most successful coaches in franchise history. During his nine seasons with the organization, the Trail Blazers reached the playoffs eight times and advanced to the Western Conference Finals in 2019 behind Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.
Portland has shifted into a younger core since Stotts’ departure, but the roster now features several pieces that could fit his offensive system. The Trail Blazers ranked eighth in the Western Conference at 42-40 this season before losing to the San Antonio Spurs in five games during the first round.
Deni Avdija emerged as Portland’s leading scorer and first-time All-Star, averaging 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game. Shaedon Sharpe added 20.8 points per contest, while Scoot Henderson continued his development at point guard during his age-21 season.
The roster also includes established veterans such as Jrue Holiday and Jerami Grant, along with promising frontcourt talent Donovan Clingan, who averaged 11.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks across 77 games. In addition, Lillard is set to return from Achilles injury next season.
Stotts has long been respected for building efficient offenses and maximizing guard play. His Portland teams consistently ranked among the league’s better half-court offenses during the Lillard era, and his experience developing perimeter scorers could appeal to a young Blazers group built around Sharpe and Henderson.
His departure from Golden State also comes after two seasons working under Kerr, where he gained additional experience within a motion-heavy offensive structure. Before joining the Warriors, Stotts briefly worked as an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023.
The veteran coach owns prior head coaching stops with the Atlanta Hawks and Bucks before his lengthy tenure in Portland. He also spent time as an assistant with Seattle, Milwaukee, Dallas and Golden State, including serving on Rick Carlisle’s staff during the Mavericks’ 2011 championship run.
