Norman Powell fuels the Miami Heat's offense, dropping career highs and demanding an All-Star nod. He's confident that his dominant play is making an undeniable case.
The Miami Heat have experienced ups and downs, especially as the regular season reaches the midpoint. However, one of the more consistent aspects has been Norman Powell. The veteran guard is coming off an All-Star caliber career year, but after missing out on an invitation, he's looking to solidify it this time around. The 32-year-old is averaging 24.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 steals while shooting 48.8 percent from the field, 42.1 percent from three-point range, on pace to surpass last season's numbers.
In the league's first All-Star votes return, Powell ranked 18th out of 20 among Eastern Conference players, with 108,390 total. It's ridiculous how much of this has become a popularity contest. However, the 11-year veteran is on a more promising track compared to last year.
In the Heat's recent outing against the New Orleans Pelicans, Powell exploded for 34 points, including nine three-pointers made, a new career high, along with three rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 29 minutes. He led the charge towards victory, after a final score of 125-106. The former champion is confident in his All-Star case.
"I think I definitely have made the case," Powell said. "I've learned last year not to get caught up in whether I make it or not. I want to make it, I think I deserve to make it. My peers around the league, after games, are telling me that I'm an All-Star and that I should be there. Hopefully, it happens for me this year. For me, the goal is to go out there and win, showcase all my hard work, and leave it up to the fans, the coaches that make those decisions. I know the voting has changed over the years, but my case is to go out there and help them win. From doing that, outside people believe I should make it. I do believe that I am an All-Star; I've always seen myself as that."
It's not often that a player at a later stage in their careers make the case of being an All-Star for the first time. However, Powell is defying the odds, especially in a more expanded role in his first season with the Heat. Despite dealing with injuries, most notably Tyler Herro, who's only appeared in six games thus far, the former second-rounder has done a marvelous job in elevating the offense.
If Powell continues to have these performances, sustaining the production, the chances of him returning to the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, for the All-Star grow higher.
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