Timberwolves Coach’s Son Shines for Italy in World Baseball Classic

While the Minnesota Timberwolves chase an NBA playoff spot, the team has another reason to celebrate. Assistant coach Micah Nori's son Dante is making headlines playing for Italy in the World Baseball Classic, creating an exciting crossover between basketball and baseball for the organization.

The Minnesota Timberwolves face a critical matchup on Tuesday evening, but it won’t be the only game capturing their attention.

While the team prepares to battle the Los Angeles Lakers in their ongoing playoff push, they’ll also be keeping tabs on a completely different sport happening in Houston. Instead of basketball action, they’ll be watching for home runs and strikeouts as one of their own takes center stage in the World Baseball Classic.

The unique situation stems from assistant coach Micah Nori’s son, Dante Nori, who has emerged as a standout performer for Team Italy in the international tournament. Italy faces off against the United States on Tuesday evening, with the game beginning just hours before Minnesota tips off against Los Angeles.

“I will be watching the Timberwolves,” Micah Nori said. “But at 6 o’clock Pacific time, I will be focused on the Italians and the Americans in the WBC, for sure.”

While Minnesota remains laser-focused on securing the best possible playoff positioning in the competitive Western Conference, head coach Chris Finch, co-owner Alex Rodriguez — who brings considerable baseball expertise to the organization — and other team members have rallied around supporting their colleague’s family achievement.

“My family is obviously locked in on it, but so is our organization,” Micah Nori said. “It sounds crazy, but so many guys are locked in. Our head coach is a big fan, and I can’t tell you how many people send videos or pictures of them watching Dante’s game. It means a lot. It is a welcome distraction, if you will, one that has you just get away from the grind a little bit.”

Through Italy’s first two tournament contests, Dante Nori has compiled an impressive 5-for-7 batting performance, highlighted by a two-home run showcase in Italy’s victory over Brazil on Saturday.

According to his father, Dante’s baseball destiny became apparent remarkably early. By age 4, Micah recognized his son’s athletic future lay on the diamond rather than the hardwood, often redirecting young Dante from his toy basketball hoop to pick up a baseball bat instead.

Dante offers a slightly different timeline, explaining his sport selection became clear during middle school when he realized his height would plateau around 5-foot-9.

“It was a very easy choice,” Dante Nori said. “Just keep the cleats on and play baseball.”

Representing Italy on the international stage holds deep significance for the Nori family, and the baseball connection runs much deeper than casual interest.

Baseball excellence spans generations in the Nori household. Grandfather Fred Nori spent three seasons playing college baseball at Indiana before pursuing professional opportunities. Micah Nori also competed for the Hoosiers, posting a team-leading .365 batting average during his senior campaign. Though Butch Carter eventually recruited him into basketball as an advance scout for the Toronto Raptors, Micah later returned to Indiana as a coach before rejoining NBA circles permanently.

“Being around all these great NBA players your whole life, it helps you out listening to them, seeing their work ethic, seeing what they had to do to get there,” Dante Nori said. “And then the standpoint of getting to rep that name — Italia — across your chest, you’re playing for your ancestors, you’re playing for your family, especially my grandpa Fred. Him getting to watch is really special. All of that, it’s just all coming together. It’s sweet.”

The Nori family appreciates the unique advantage of having Rodriguez — a 14-time All-Star, three-time MVP, World Series champion, and 696-career home run hitter — as part of their extended basketball family.

Rodriguez’s baseball pedigree provides invaluable mentorship opportunities, creating an ideal blend of professional sports guidance across both basketball and baseball.

“Alex has been great the few times that Dante and he have crossed paths when Dante was in Minnesota, even when he was in high school,” Micah Nori said. “Alex is always taking time to give Dante some advice. And I think that’s been huge. Just the fact that Dante has been fortunate enough to grow up in professional locker rooms, he realizes that they’re just people but he sees the work ethic. And that’s why I think he gets to the WBC and just focuses on playing his game. He’s not distracted or overwhelmed by it all.”