Former Bruin and first time All-Star Norman Powell returns to lead Miami Heat on playoff run

Norman Powell returned to the Miami Heat last night after battling injury. The former Bruins standout has had a great first season with Miami. Turning it into his first All-Star appearance, adding to a long list of Bruins guards that have been All-Star players. Powell, for the majority of his career has been a sixth man, but now is pressed into a starter role in Miami and is thriving well. Pairing with another former Bruin stand out in Jaime Jaquez Jr. to lead the Heat to a 38-30 record.

Powell on the season is averaging 22.5 points per game on 47.3/38.8/83 shooting splits. Showing to be a very good three level scorer. He came off the bench last night for the first time this season against the Orlando Magic. But the goal was to ease his way back into the lineup after missing close to a month. He scored 20 points on 7-15 shooting in the 121-117 loss.

Powell played four seasons at UCLA between 2011-2015. Being a starter his last two seasons and earning First-team All-Pac-12 honors his senior season. Despite that he was still just a second-round pick in the 2015 NBA draft. Going No. 46 to the Milwaukee Bucks before being traded on draft night to the Toronto Raptors. There he became an integral part of the team and was an NBA champion in the 2019 season.

Powell then had a short stint with the Portland Trail Blazers before finding a permanent home with the Los Angeles Clippers. There he became one of the best sixth men in the NBA constantly scoring 20 points per game. Leading their bench unit to one of the best in the league. In four years, there he averaged 17.4 points per game on 48.4/42.1/81.6 shooting splits over 201 games and 73 starts. Now with the Heat he is breaking out as a full-time starter and looks to have a good finish to lead them to the playoffs.