Norman Powell from the Los Angeles Clippers discusses his successful season and his charitable organization, 'Understand The Grind.'
Norman Powell, the LA Clippers star, fully comprehends his mantra, "Embrace the Struggle." At 31, the experienced vet is shining this season, his 10th in the league, leading the Clippers in scoring with an impressive 24.6 points per game, and maintaining a sizzling 45.9% shooting rate from beyond the arc (fifth in the NBA).
Originally, Powell was a lesser-known second-round draft pick who didn't have a guaranteed spot on the Raptors' roster. However, he proved his worth and became a significant contributor during Toronto's title run in 2019. Now, as a Clippers player in a struggling season without Kawhi Leonard, Powell has stepped up as the main scoring option, keeping the team in contention for a playoff spot in the tough Western Conference.
"I had a clear objective," Powell shared in a one-on-one interview. "I had high expectations for myself, no matter what others said about me or my potential in the league. I always saw myself as a key player, contributing regularly, and being the top scorer – it was always my mindset."
The 6-foot-3 shooting guard always visualized himself as a top scorer, but acknowledges that he had to put in time as a role player before reaching his current position. During his first four seasons with the Raptors, he averaged less than nine points per game. However, he has since consistently exceeded 16 points per game each season.
During Toronto's 2018-19 championship season, Powell averaged 8.6 points in 18.8 minutes per game as the ninth-leading scorer on the team.
"At the end of the day, I had to recognize what it takes to succeed," Powell emphasized. "I knew I had to climb the ladder and adapt to my role to earn playing time. I was always focused on winning. I'm still focused on winning. I'll do whatever role I'm assigned to help this team win, while chasing my individual aspirations and targets."
Powell's unanticipated rise as the Clippers' top scorer following the departures of Hall of Famers Paul George and Russell Westbrook has put him in contention to be an All-Star selection and All-NBA team member – goals he has long desired.
"It's been ten years in the league, and this is my first time being the primary or secondary scoring option on a team," Powell reflected. "It's been about growing as a player and recognizing what I needed to do each year to advance in my journey."
Powell's "Embrace the Struggle" philosophy has been a driving force in his career. The Raptors initially wanted to send him overseas to earn his contract but Powell had other plans and earned his spot in summer league.
If his basketball career hadn't worked out, Powell would have likely gone back to school to study law, but says he didn't have an alternative plan if his basketball career hadn't panned out.
"I didn't have a backup plan," Powell admitted. "If basketball didn't work out, I'd probably become a lawyer and go back to school. But I wasn't banking on that. I poured everything into this."
Powell's "Embrace the Struggle" catchphrase stems from a conversation he had with his high school friends about the limited number of successful athletes coming from their area (Southeast San Diego). One of his friends pointed out that many people didn't understand what it took to be successful, leading to a career of challenges and setbacks.
"He said, 'A lot of people don't understand the struggle. They don't know what it takes to be successful. They often make mistakes along the way. That's why we don't see too many successful athletes or people from Southeast San Diego,'" Powell recalled. "It stuck with me, and we started using it as a motivational tool during tough times and when chasing our individual goals and dreams."
Powell's transformation from bit-part player to leading scorer has led to creating the "Embrace the Struggle" foundation. The second-year foundation aims to help the community, specifically underprivileged youth, through mentorship programs, AAU basketball programs in San Diego, and scholarship programs for student athletes.
"I identified with 'Embrace the Struggle' because it reflects my way of life and my belief system," Powell explained. "It symbolizes that no matter what obstacles you encounter on your path to achieving your career goals, you have to understand what it takes to be successful, no matter the field you choose."
The long-term objective is to open a facility in San Diego where Powell can support youth with both sports and academics.
"It's all about achieving your dreams and achieving success," Powell concluded. "My foundation is about giving back to the youth and the community, with a goal of eventually opening a facility where young people can hone their skills on the field and in the classroom."
"Our current objective is to amass funds for these projects we're working on. We're broadening our mentorship program, which initially focused on Lincoln High School in San Diego (Powell's old alma mater), to include other school districts in the city," Powell explains further.
This seasoned player, who's in his 10th year, has a clothing line that mirrors his beloved motto. Unsurprisingly, his favorite phrases on this line yet again emphasize the importance of persevering through the "grind."
"I've got two phrases here - 'The grind pays and then the grind continues' and 'It's always a relentless pursuit of your aspirations.' Basically, the grind keeps on going, constantly driving you towards your objectives. No matter how hard you work, it always yields results."
In the midst of the LA Clippers' challenging season, Norman Powell's stellar performance has drawn comparisons to his time with the Toronto Raptors, particularly during their championship run in 2019 when Kawhi Leonard was also a key player.
The NBA landscape is buzzing about the possibility of Norman Powell making an All-Star team and potentially being recognized in the All-NBA squad, achievements that he has long aspired to achieve.
