Does Heat's Norman Powell have a case for All-Star team?!

Miami Heat guard Norman Powell has been a breath of fresh air for the organization this season, so much so that he’s been their best offensive player through 36 games.

Coming off the heels of a 34-point performance, draining a career-high nine 3-pointers against the New Orleans Pelicans, Powell continues to make his most compelling push for his first career All-Star game.

“I think so,” Powell said when asked if he’s made an All-Star case. “I think I definitely have made the case. I learned last year to not 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 I am an All-Star. Hopefully, it happens for me this year.

“The goal out there is to win and showcase all my hard work and leave it up to the fans, coaches that make those decisions.”

Norman Powell says he deserves to make All-Star:

“I want to make it. I think I deserve to make it. My peers around the league after games are telling me I am an All Star. Hopefully it happens for me this year.”

(h/t @HeatCulture13)pic.twitter.com/Z5gHNMFbPY
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 5, 2026

Does he have a legitimate case?! Let’s examine.

Norman Powell’s case to make the All-Star team (so far):

It’s worth reminding that fan voting only accounts for 50 percent of the starters only, while 25 percent from the media and 25 percent from players themselves. The coaches will choose the final seven reserves.

Powell won’t be an All-Star starter. But where does he rank among the 140 East players who have played at least 25 games? Let’s examine:

Points: 24.4 PTS (8th)
Rebounds: 3.7 REB (106th)
Assists: 2.7 AST (70th)
Steals: 1.3 STL (T-20)
3-point makes: 3.1 3PM (8th)
3-point percentage (min. 100 3PA): 42.1 (11th)
True-Shooting percentage (min. 250 FGA): 63.9 TS% (5th)

There will be a different twist to this year’s All-Star game, however. There will be no positional requirements, and there will be a 16-8 American-born vs. International split. Adam Silver mentioned that he would have to fill-in spots if there’s not a clean 16-8 split.

Of American-born players, Stephen Curry, Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey, Cade Cunningham, Donovan Mitchell, Jaylen Brown and Jalen Johnson will likely be named All-Stars. That begs the question: Is Powell’s resume good enough to make the final seven?!

There’s definitely a case, especially if he continues this trajectory scoring- and efficiency-wise. Sure, there’s way more to the game than just scoring. Powell’s a tertiary playmaker, at best; he’s slipped defensively; he’s an OK rebounder.

But where Powell’s made his money is fueling a dormant Heat offense into a near top-10 unit, given Tyler Herro’s injuries and Bam Adebayo’s recent slide. Not to mention, Miami is scoring 119.0 points per 100 possessions when he’s on the floor; that’s a top-5 unit. Conversely, when he’s off, they’re scoring 112.5, which is a bottom-seven mark.

While there are rightful questions about his all-around impact, how he’s transformed the Miami Heat’s offense is worth consideration alone. A lot can happen between now and then, and similarly to how it was last year, we’ll always split hairs on the last few names rewarded.

The All-Star Game will be on Sunday, Feb. 15, inside Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.