Nate Bjorkgren is an American basketball coach who is an assistant coach for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association.
15 Facts About Nate Bjorkgren
1.
2.
Nate Bjorkgren played college basketball for the University of South Dakota and Buena Vista University.
3.
Nate Bjorkgren was previously an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns from 2015 to 2017 and the Toronto Raptors from 2018 to 2020.
4.
When Nate Bjorkgren started playing basketball in college, he first began by playing for South Dakota in 1994.
5.
Nate Bjorkgren eventually graduated in 1998 with a degree in Exercise Science.
6.
Nate Bjorkgren began his high school coaching career at small Sioux Central High School, in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, first as an assistant coach and then a head coach at age 23.
7.
Four years after graduating from Buena Vista University, Nate Bjorkgren moved out to Phoenix, Arizona.
8.
From 2004 to 2007, Nate Bjorkgren continued his coaching career, this time with Cactus Shadows High School in Cave Creek, Arizona.
9.
On July 30,2015, Nate Bjorkgren got promoted to the NBA by being named both an assistant coach and the leading player development coordinator for the Phoenix Suns under head coach Jeff Hornacek.
10.
Nate Bjorkgren was immediately considered a prime candidate to take over the vacant coaching spot before the position was ultimately given to Earl Watson.
11.
Nate Bjorkgren then became a part of the Toronto Raptors under their advanced scouting department for the rest of the season onward.
12.
On July 25,2018, Nate Bjorkgren was hired by the Toronto Raptors as an assistant coach.
13.
Nate Bjorkgren became the first assistant coach to win both an NBA Finals and NBA D-League Championship throughout a coaching career, winning both under Nick Nurse as head coach.
14.
On June 24,2024, Nate Bjorkgren was promoted to assistant coach.
15.
Nate Bjorkgren served as acting head coach for two games in December 2024 during Chauncey Billups' absence.