Norman Powell has been on the verge of NBA stardom before. Now, with a fresh start in Miami and a wide-open Eastern Conference, the veteran guard could finally secure the All-Star nod that has eluded him.
Powell’s Rising Profile
Powell, 32, came close to making the All-Star team last season after cracking the 20-points-per-game mark for the first time in his career. NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner sees him as one of several players with a realistic shot this year.
“Powell is a guy whose star has been on the rise for a while,” Aschburner wrote. “After two seasons picking up Kia Sixth Man votes, he started every game he played last season and cracked the 20 ppg level. With his offseason trade to Miami, Powell can thrive in some old Dwyane Wade action while flexing his 41.9% 3-point shooting over the past four seasons. At 32, though, Powell is closing in on Nat (Sweetwater) Clifton, who at 34 became the oldest first-time All-Star.”
A Pathway in the East
The All-Star landscape in the East has shifted dramatically. Last year’s East All-Stars Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard are all sidelined by injuries or roster moves, leaving potential openings for first-time selections. For Powell, who has quietly established himself as one of the league’s more efficient scorers, the timing couldn’t be better.
Powell arrived in South Florida as part of a three-team deal that sent John Collins to the Clippers and Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson and a Clippers second-round pick to Utah. The move came after a turbulent season for Miami, which included trading Jimmy Butler to Golden State and bowing out of the playoffs in a first-round sweep to Cleveland.
The Heat also pursued 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant before he ultimately landed elsewhere, leaving Powell as their major offseason addition.
A Vital Role With Herro Out
Getty Tyler Herro will miss the start of the season as the Miami Heat star underwent foot surgery.
Powell’s role grew even larger when the Heat announced that Tyler Herro underwent foot surgery, sidelining him to start the season. Herro, 25, is coming off his best year, averaging 23.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists while earning his first All-Star berth.
Without Herro, the Heat will rely heavily on Powell to shoulder the scoring load in the backcourt. His ability to space the floor and attack off the dribble makes him a critical piece in Miami’s offense until Herro returns.
Contract Stakes and Extension Talk
Powell is in the final year of his deal, worth $20.4 million, and is eligible for an extension. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Heat are open to discussing a new deal, but Powell’s value could rise significantly if he delivers All-Star-level production.
A Challenging Start Ahead
Miami’s schedule to open the season won’t make things easy. Six of their first eight games are on the road, including a West Coast swing, and 11 of their first 15 opponents made the playoffs last season.
By the time Herro returns, the Heat hope Powell will have solidified his role not just as a stopgap scorer but as part of one of the most dangerous backcourt tandems in the East. Miami’s projected starting five includes Herro, Powell, Andrew Wiggins, Bam Adebayo and rookie Kel’el Ware — a group that blends youth, athleticism and scoring punch.
For Powell, though, the story is simple: this may be his last, best shot to join the league’s elite. And in Miami, where expectations are high and opportunities scarce, an All-Star nod would validate both his journey and the Heat’s gamble.
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