Norman Powell

 

Norman W.C. Powell (born May 25, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and weighing 215 pounds (98 kg), Powell plays shooting guard. He played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins, earning First Team All-Pac-12 honors as a senior. Powell was selected 46th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2015 NBA Draft and was immediately traded to the Toronto Raptors. He won an NBA championship with Toronto in 2019 and was named to his first NBA All-Star Game in 2026 with Miami.

 

Early Life 

High School Career

 

Powell was born on May 25, 1993, in San Diego, California, to parents Sharon and Norman Powell Sr. He has two older sisters, Joniece and Margaret. Powell was introduced to basketball by his uncle, Raymond Edwards.

 

Powell attended Lincoln High School in San Diego, where he became one of California’s top players. He led Lincoln to consecutive California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) San Diego Section 2A championships in 2009 and 2010. In 2010, the team captured the CIF Division II Boys’ State Championship, with Powell scoring 24 points in a 74-59 victory over Mountain View St. Francis. As a junior, he averaged 19.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.7 steals, earning First Team All-State and Western League MVP honors. Powell was rated as a four-star recruit and the 52nd-ranked player nationally in the 2011 ESPN 100.

College Career

 

Powell attended UCLA from 2011 to 2015, playing all four seasons for the Bruins. As a freshman, he was the only true freshman to play significant minutes, averaging 4.6 points and 2.2 rebounds in 17.8 minutes across 33 games. He earned nine starts as a sophomore but considered transferring to San Diego State before a coaching change convinced him to stay.

 

As a junior in 2013-14, Powell started all 37 games and averaged 11.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.4 steals. His staunch defense helped UCLA reach the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.

 

After being informed he was unlikely to be drafted, Powell returned for his senior season and became UCLA’s top returning player after Kyle Anderson and Zach LaVine declared for the NBA Draft. In 2014-15, Powell averaged a team-high 16.4 points (sixth in Pac-12), 4.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.8 steals. On March 1, 2015, he scored a career-high 28 points against Washington State, earning his third Pac-12 Player of the Week award. Powell was named First Team All-Pac-12 and helped lead the Bruins to another Sweet 16 appearance. He graduated with a degree in history.

 

NBA Career

 

Toronto Raptors (2015–2021)

 

On June 25, 2015, Powell was selected 46th overall by Milwaukee and immediately traded to Toronto for Greivis Vásquez. He was the only rookie named to the All-NBA Summer League First Team. Powell made his first NBA start on February 2, 2016, going scoreless in 15 minutes.

 

On October 8, 2017, Powell signed a four-year, $42 million extension with Toronto. On November 5, 2018, he partially dislocated his left shoulder against Utah and missed 21 games. Powell won his first NBA championship when Toronto defeated Golden State in the 2019 Finals.

 

Portland Trail Blazers (2021–2022)

 

On March 25, 2021, Powell was traded to Portland for Gary Trent Jr. and Rodney Hood. On August 6, 2021, he signed a five-year, $90 million contract with the Trail Blazers.

 

Los Angeles Clippers (2022–2025)

 

On February 4, 2022, Powell was traded to the Clippers along with Robert Covington for Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson, and a 2025 second-round pick.

 

Powell thrived with the Clippers, becoming one of the NBA’s top scorers. On February 13, 2025, he scored 41 points in a 120-116 overtime win against Utah. He participated in the 2025 Three-Point Contest, losing in the first round. Through the 2024-25 season, Powell averaged 24.2 points per game, establishing himself as an elite scorer.

 

Miami Heat (2025–Present)

 

On July 7, 2025, Powell was traded to Miami in a three-team deal involving Utah. On February 1, 2026, he was named to his first NBA All-Star Game as an Eastern Conference reserve. 

 

International Career

 

On August 4, 2025, Powell committed to representing the Jamaican national team for the 2027 FIBA World Cup Americas qualifiers, connecting to his Jamaican heritage.

 

Personal Life

 

Powell hosts an annual summer youth basketball camp in his hometown of San Diego. 

 

References

 

External Links

* Norman Powell on NBA.com

* Norman Powell on Basketball-Reference.com