By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Pablo Prigioni is stepping into the lead assistant coach role for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The opening came up after Micah Nori left to become the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. While the departing coach focused on game management, head coach Chris Finch plans to use Prigioni differently. The new responsibilities center on shaping the offense and guiding player development, tailoring the role to the Argentine-Italian’s specific strengths.
This promotion is the latest step in a coaching career that started right after he stopped playing in 2017. He first coached his former club, Baskonia. Then, he moved back across the Atlantic to work as an assistant for the Brooklyn Nets during the 2018–19 season, before joining the Wolves staff. Prigioni balances these NBA duties with international responsibilities, serving as the head coach for the senior national team of Argentina since 2022.
Before moving to the bench, Prigioni spent more than two decades on the court. He grew up playing for Ramallo in Argentina. In 1999, he moved to Spain. He spent over a decade there with teams like Fuenlabrada, Alicante, Real Madrid, and Tau Ceramica, which is now known as Kosner Baskonia. During that stretch, he won several domestic titles and led the EuroLeague in assists and steals during different seasons. On the international stage, he secured an Olympic bronze medal with Argentina in 2008.
He eventually made the jump to the NBA in 2012. By signing with the New York Knicks at age 35, he became the oldest rookie in league history. He played 303 games over four seasons, spending time with the Knicks, Houston Rockets, and Los Angeles Clippers before returning to Europe for his final year.
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