PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Trail Blazers may be preparing to open the 2026–27 NBA season with one of the league’s most intriguing—and potentially complicated—backcourts.
Head coach Micah Nori said starting Damian Lillard and Ja Morant together doesn’t make sense, but he is reportedly leaning toward doing exactly that.
According to Jason Quick of The Athletic, Nori pointed to the size and defensive concerns surrounding the pairing. Both Lillard and Morant are undersized guards who have not historically been known for their defensive impact.
The alternative would be starting Jrue Holiday, giving Portland a bigger and more defensively capable guard alongside one of its two star ball-handlers.
But there is another factor: both Lillard and Morant have been longtime starters.
Lillard also said earlier this week that, “as far as I know,” he, Morant and Deni Avdija would all be in the starting lineup.
THE BACKCOURT QUESTION
Portland’s roster creates an unusual balancing act.
Lillard brings elite perimeter shooting and half-court scoring. Morant provides explosive athleticism, transition offense and pressure at the rim.
The problem comes on the other end of the floor.
With both guards on the court, Portland could have to compensate defensively while also figuring out how Lillard, Morant and Avdija—three players accustomed to having the ball—share offensive responsibilities.
Morant has already indicated that he and Lillard are working on being intentional about playing together.
“There’s so much space with Dame out there on the floor,” Morant said during training camp.
Nori now has to determine whether the offensive possibilities outweigh the defensive and positional concerns.
WHAT WE KNOW
- Damian Lillard: Expected to return to Portland’s lineup after missing the 2025–26 season while recovering from an Achilles injury.
- Ja Morant: Joined Portland during the offseason.
- Micah Nori: Entering his first season as the Trail Blazers’ head coach.
- Jrue Holiday: Provides Portland with another experienced backcourt option and a more defensive-minded alternative.
- Deni Avdija: Returns as a major offensive piece after averaging 24.2 points per game last season.
PROJECTED PORTLAND STARTING FIVE
| Position | Player |
| PG | Ja Morant |
| SG | Damian Lillard |
| SF | Deni Avdija |
| PF | Toumani Camara |
| C | Donovan Clingan |
Nori has not officially locked in the starting five, but the Morant-Lillard combination appears increasingly likely.
And that means Portland’s experiment could begin before the opening tip of the regular season.
The Blazers’ first regular-season game is Oct. 21 against the Phoenix Suns.
For now, Nori appears willing to see whether two star guards who may not make perfect sense together can make it work anyway.
