Davion Mitchell #45 of the Toronto Raptors defends against Norman Powell #24 of the LA Clippers (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Clippers shooting guard Norman Powell is having the definition of a breakthrough season.
While it may be hard to imagine a 31-year-old having a "breakthrough" season 10 years into his career, Powell is doing just that as the Clippers' leading scoring option, averaging a team-leading 23.7 points per game while converting on 48.5% of his 3-point attempts, the fifth-best mark in the NBA.
Norman Powell’s Rise to Leadership on the Clippers
He's doing all this while helping keep the Clippers afloat at 16-12 in the injury absence of Kawhi Leonard and following the offseason departures of Paul George and Russell Westbrook.
"I always thought, no matter what was being said, no matter what articles were put out, or their opinions about me, I always knew that I could play at this level," Powell tells RG in a one-on-one interview. "I always knew I could play against these guys and compete against them throughout the course of my career. I've competed against the top guys at UCLA in the summer, going up against the world's best as a freshman, getting compliments and earning respect from them even when I was in college. I've seen it up close. It was just about having the opportunity."
The Clippers are currently ranked fifth in the Western Conference and have probably exceeded expectations through one-third of the season. While you won't find observers considering the Clippers for a deep playoff run, Powell expects Los Angeles to become even more of a threat when his longtime teammate, Leonard, makes his season debut.
"This season is to win a championship," says Powell when asked what the objective is for this season.
"I think we have what it takes. I think we've shocked a lot of people, they're shocked and surprised with how well we're playing as a team. I remember before media day and training camp, the articles and standings of predictions about where we're going to be were either last or second-to-last in the West. We're right here in the thick of things."
And, for Powell, anything short of a championship title would be a massive dissapointment.
"A championship is what we're aiming for and hoping for when Kawhi comes back," Powell continues to say. "I think the foundation that we've laid as a team and how we're playing with a player like Kawhi coming back, people will start to say we're contenders."
Building Chemistry and Chasing Championships
This isn't the first time Powell and Leonard have teamed up together. They previously did so with the Toronto Raptors for a season where the pair helped lead the franchise to their first and only championship back in 2019. However, the Powell of back then was a vastly different player compared to now, where he only averaged 8.6 points in 18.8 minutes per game.
They reunited when Powell was traded to the Clippers from the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2021-22 season.
Powell describes Leonard as "seriously hilarious" and says that his longtime friend – who gives off the impression of being robotic – has a lot of great "one-liners."
Powell – who was 26 years old at the time he won his championship – outlines the biggest thing that he learned when he won a championship.
"The biggest thing I've learned is how hard it is," says Powell. "From the outside looking in, people think it's super easy to win a championship and it should just happen all the time when you have a great team and all these pieces, but it's about coming together at the right time. It's all certain guys stepping up when it's needed, especially in a playoff series, because you're playing the same team almost up to seven times. It's the little things and guys really stepping in and filling different voids and things that teams are trying to take away."
Powell had the opportunity to team up with four Hall-of-Fame players in Leonard, Westbrook, George and James Harden last season. While the Clippers obviously didn't achieve their objective of winning the title last season – they lost in the first round to the Dallas Mavericks – it's still a notable feat for Powell having had the opportunity to team up with four NBA legends at the same time.
"It's still crazy to talk about when I talk to my boys, 'Man you got to play with James, Russ and all that.' It's amazing," says Powell.
"When you're a kid growing up, you watch these guys from afar, take little bits and aspects of their games, but to be able to share the floor with them, see how all of them work, have that chance to possibly win a championship with those guys. "
Powell is now hungrier then ever to secure that championship ring and take the Clippers to the NBA Finals to secure the title many thought was there’s for the taking last season.
"To be able to have that moment of possibly winning a championship with those guys and knowing how big it would be for their resume and their career is definitely crazy," Powell continues to say. "It sucks that we weren't able to get it done, but in the moment you're doing whatever it takes and hoping and wishing you're a part of that legacy."
While there's a long way to go in the season combined with the return of Leonard likely putting a dent in Powell's production, the veteran guard is still aiming to achieve his objective of clinching an All-Star bid for the first time in his career. He also mentions his desire to emerge as an All-NBA player – which would also be a first for the 10-year veteran.
"The individual accolades, First Team or Second Team All-NBA selection," says Powell when asked what his career objectives are. "But those aren't things that I'm actively aiming for. I would say All-Star every year is probably one of the things that I'm aiming for and winning a championship."
DJ Siddiqi
