Norman Powell, 32, earns first All-Star nod and returns for L.A. homecoming
Norman Powell is living a late-career revival. The 32-year-old guard, recently traded to Miami, picked up his first NBA All-Star selection and used the occasion to return to Southern California — close to where he grew up and starred at UCLA — for a string of community appearances that doubled as a celebration of both achievement and hometown roots.
Homecoming: familiar streets, new milestones
The All-Star recognition represents a milestone many assumed might never come for a player who has navigated trades and role changes throughout his career. Back in Los Angeles for All-Star Weekend, Powell moved through Venice, Inglewood and El Segundo, taking in the energy of a city that knows him from his college days and youth. The trip was equal parts public celebration and quiet affirmation: a reminder that professional peaks can arrive later than expected, and that the connection between a player and his community can endure across team changes.
Teaching on the court: hands-on with kids
Powell spent significant time with young players, running through basic mechanics, demonstrating shooting technique and placing his hands over theirs to teach the guide-hand follow-through that helps so many shooters find consistency. Those moments were intimate and instructive — not celebrity photo ops, but genuine coaching sessions that turned fans into pupils. At an Inglewood event highlighted by a mural-wrapped bus bearing a likeness of Powell and colors nodding to his Jamaican heritage, he signed autographs, posed for photos and lingered to make sure each child left with something more than a memory.
A role model beyond the stat sheet
Powell’s message was straightforward: persistence matters. He pointed to the arc of his career — stops in multiple cities and shifts in role and opportunity — and framed his All-Star berth as proof that perseverance, preparation and adapting to new systems can yield rewards, even later in a player’s career. Now thriving in a faster, more uptempo scheme, he’s showing that experience can be an asset rather than an obstacle when a team’s style complements a player’s strengths.
The homecoming also underscored Powell’s roots. Growing up in nearby San Diego and moving through the Los Angeles basketball ecosystem during his UCLA years, he carries deep ties to the region. Those ties were evident in the turnout at events and the warmth of interactions: fans who remembered his college days, kids watching a professional demonstrate techniques up close, and families grateful to see a local product standing tall on a national stage.
For Miami, Powell’s All-Star form is more than a feel-good story. His ability to shoot, defend and thrive in an uptempo environment adds a valuable piece to a roster aiming to maximize spacing and pace. For Powell himself, the honor is validation — not just statistical, but personal. The return to Los Angeles for All-Star Weekend allowed him to celebrate that validation where many of his basketball roots were planted.
As the regular season resumes, Powell’s profile has changed: opponents will account for an All-Star whose steady scoring and veteran savvy can tilt games. Off the court, the image of him standing over a youngster’s hands, guiding a follow-through in a gym in Inglewood, will likely linger longer than any single game highlight — a reminder that professional accomplishments can inspire the next generation in very tangible ways.
