February 15, 2025
Clippers guard Norman Powell continues to compete at an All-Star level

Clippers guard Norman Powell continues to compete at an All-Star level

Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell (center) goes to the basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, January 16, 2025, in Portland, Oregon. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Clippers guard Norman Powell, who scored a layup against Trail Blazers forward Kris Murray, had a breakout season. (Jenny Kane/Associated Press)

It was a Friday, after the Clippers had just come off a back-to-back affair and had five games in seven days starting this week, when Norman Powell decided it was the perfect time for his physical well-being.

Powell’s motto during his basketball career was “Grind.” He even opened a clothing line called “Understand The Grind.” It’s what Powell has always represented, and it’s what has taken him to new heights in a decade-long career defined by his dedication to his craft.

On this day off, Powell got a massage to prepare for the stress that lay ahead.

“Take care of the body between games and make sure you recover properly so you can go out and perform the way you want,” Powell said. “It’s all part of the process.”

The considerable time Powell has spent reaching a higher level has his name in the conversation as a possible All-Star selection next month in San Francisco.

With an average of 23.7 points per game, he is one of the 20 best scorers in the NBA. He is one of the best three-point shooters in the league, ranking sixth at 45.2%.

Read more: Norman Powell and James Harden help the Clippers win over Portland

After the third-round pick was released last week, Powell went 10th overall to the Western Conference guards.

To receive the first selection of his career, Powell will most likely have to be selected to the team by the 30 NBA coaches who select the reserve team.

“It was always an individual goal,” Powell said as he and the Clippers prepared to host the Lakers for the first time at their own arena, the Intuit Dome, on Sunday. “It was, ‘I want to be an All-Star.’ I want to be on this stage. “I want to be in the same position I saw my favorite players in as a child.”

“And honestly, it’s surreal. … It’s been 10 years and I kind of take it as a little shot or a little tap on my shoulder when everyone talks about, ‘Oh, this is his 10th year in the league and this and that.’ “It’s just nicer to be mentioned as an All-Star now, even though it’s my tenth year.”

The Understand The Grind clothing line embodies Powell’s ideals.

It’s a belief the 31-year-old holds on to every day, a guide he follows after spending four years at UCLA and being drafted in the second round in 2015.

“Understand The Grind is about understanding the process of what it takes and, well, specifically talking about me and my journey and my process to get to where I want to be,” he said. “Understanding the choices and decisions that come along with the journey. Particularly as a professional athlete, you have to overcome many obstacles, which you can either allow to define you or you can figure out how to work around, through, or over the obstacles in order to continue on the path you want to be. Understand the Grind is all about a mental attitude and approach to my daily focus on my career.”

His mother Sharon Powell, who raised Norman and his older sisters Joniece and Margaret, and his uncle Raymond Edwards were his role models.

Clippers guard Norman Powell (right) celebrates with teammate Derrick Jones Jr. after a three-point shot.Clippers guard Norman Powell (right) celebrates with teammate Derrick Jones Jr. after a three-point shot.

Clippers guard Norman Powell celebrates with teammate Derrick Jones Jr. after hitting a three-pointer against Portland at the Intuit Dome last month. (Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press)

Sharon and Edwards taught the principles that Norman uses today.

“I just watched them talk to me as I was growing up and give me advice on how to cope with life, how to achieve my own dreams and not let anyone stop me and always in the “We were able to find a way,” Powell said. “I learned that from both my mother and my uncle.”

When the Clippers held their media day in September, Powell used a phrase that was perceived as an attack on his former teammates Paul George, who signed with the 76ers, and Russell Westbrook, who signed with the Jazz before moving to Denver.

Powell said his opportunity this season was “addition through subtraction.” Powell simply said he was able to step into a void and become the starter because George and Westbrook moved on. It was nothing against two players he admired.

“I think people kind of pigeonholed me and probably thought I was shooting too high,” Powell said. “But when PG and Russ left, I saw the opportunity and that’s what I meant by it. It was not a shot at her or at PG or an attempted attack. I saw it as an opportunity to take on the role I had always wanted in my career and I saw addition through subtraction because I felt like I knew what I could bring to the table.”

The 1.90 meter tall Powell is the Clippers’ top scorer.

Read more: Arellano: “When am I coming back?” A long-time Clippers fan finally sees them in person

This came after he averaged 13.9 points per game coming off the bench last season.

“It’s the work he puts in,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said of Powell. “He always wanted to play in the starting lineup, but you play behind PG and Kawhi [Leonard]it is difficult. But that never stopped him from working and grinding. I’m glad he did because that’s where he is now. Now everyone can see the work he has done and what it has done for him in his career.”

The Clippers are 23:17 and are surprisingly currently the fifth seed in the highly competitive Western Conference.

Leonard, the Clippers’ best player, missed the first 34 games of this season because of inflammation in his right knee and has played in just four games this season.

But Powell’s play is a big reason the Clippers are in this position, Lue said, and it’s a testament to Powell’s hard work and ambition.

“To do what he does all year without his best player, that just says a lot,” Lue said. “Take away the best player on any team and see what he’ll do. Our best player has missed 37-38 games and we are fighting for fifth place in the West. It says a lot about what Norm and James do [Harden] have done. So, yeah, Norm is a grinder and I’m glad everyone can see that now.”

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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.

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