Acquired last Friday by the Clippers, against Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, rookie Keon Johnson and a future Draft pick, Norman Powell did not believe it.
Sacrificed by the Blazers alongside Robert Covington, the champion defender in Toronto changed clubs for the second time in a year, after signing a five-year, $90 million contract in Portland last August…
“When my agent called, I didn’t believe it at first. I suspected that there was going to be movement in Portland, simply because Ant [Anfernee Simons] played the way he played, and the way the squad was structured. I knew some guys at the Blazers were talking about trades, and I knew I wasn’t “untransferable” but since I had just signed a five-year contract, I had bought a house thinking I was going there. stay for a while. I had just picked up some extra furniture for the house. It’s probably the only black point of this exchange because I didn’t have time to enjoy it but I’m happy to be here. “
While setting up his new “home” in Oregon, Norman Powell is finally back in his hometown of Los Angeles with the Clippers currently hunkering down awaiting the return of their two superstars, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, both injured this season.
“During my career, I have literally known every role that exists in a team”, explained the neo Clipper on ESPN. “I was the guy who struggled to find his place in the rotation. I was in the rotation, I was taken out of it. I played next to Kyle and DeMar, I played next to Kyle and Kawhi. I think I fit perfectly into the plans here, with PG and Kawhi. “
A dream to come back to LA
As his 28 points in 24 minutes attest, Norman Powell is already competitive, and ready to bring his stone to the Californian building. In the prime of life at 28, the former UCLA player has averaged 18 points for the past two seasons. And his association with Leonard, George but also Mann and Jackson would indeed provide a high quality outside sector for the Clippers for the future.
“I train to be among the best. I want to be in the position Kawhi and PG are in, I want to be an All-Star. I want to reach this level. I feel ready to be part of this level of players but, at the same time, the most important thing for me is to win. I not only want to achieve these individual goals but I want to do it as part of the team. “
Not lucky in terms of timing on his latest experiences, with the Raptors in a sharp decline after the departure of Kawhi Leonard, and again in Portland with the injury of Damian Lillard, Norman Powell will have to be a little more patient. But his adaptation to the Clippers, under the leadership of Ty Lue who follows him from the “bubble” of Orlando, should be smooth for the local stage.
“An interesting thing is happening here. They have a team which fights, which is competitive, even when it takes gaps. I like teams like that, which stick together and where everyone is fighting. Like tonight, we took a splinter but we held on and came back below -10. And, with a few balls and a few shots with a different outcome, we could have come back completely… It’s the type of team that I like. I’m a player like that, a fighter. “
Currently in his seventh pro season, Norman Powell is a smart acquisition for the Clippers who have therefore decided to put their hands in the wallet to probably prepare for next season.
“It’s a dream come true to be able to play here. It’s beyond basketball to be able to go home, I’m just happy” in any case concludes the person concerned.
| Norman Powell | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2015-16 | TOR | 49 | 15 | 42.4 | 40.4 | 81.1 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 5.6 |
| 2016-17 | TOR | 76 | 18 | 44.9 | 32.4 | 79.2 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 8.4 |
| 2017-18 | TOR | 70 | 15 | 40.1 | 28.5 | 82.1 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 5.5 |
| 2018-19 | TOR | 60 | 19 | 48.2 | 40.0 | 82.7 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 8.6 |
| 2019-20 | TOR | 52 | 28 | 49.5 | 39.9 | 84.3 | 0.5 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 16.0 |
| 2020-21 * | All Teams | 69 | 32 | 47.7 | 41.1 | 87.1 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 18.6 |
| 2020-21 * | TOR | 42 | 30 | 49.8 | 43.9 | 86.5 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 19.6 |
| 2020-21 * | ORP | 27 | 34 | 44.3 | 36.1 | 88.0 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 3.3 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 17.0 |
| 2021-22 | ORP | 40 | 33 | 45.6 | 40.6 | 80.3 | 0.4 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 18.7 |
| Total | 416 | 22 | 46.2 | 38.2 | 83.0 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 11.2 | |
