For the second consecutive season, the Miami Heat had a first-time All-Star representing the organization during All-Star weekend.
Last year, Heat guard Tyler Herro was dubbed an All-Star. This year, it was first-year Heat guard Norman Powell.
However, the league, once again, debuted a new format. So instead of one big game, the NBA tested a USA v. World format, where it was a three-team Round Robin before the two best teams competed in a “championship.”
For the most part, it was very successful after French sensation Victor Wembanyama set the tone. But that meant Powell, 32, who suited up for Team World, played two 12-minute games instead of just one. How did he play? Let’s examine!
How Norman Powell played for Team World in 2026 All-Star Game:
Powell was a late add to Team World’s squad — notably coming after De’Aaron Fox was named a replacement for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who’s currently sidelined with a calf injury.
The pair of USA Teams — USA Stars and Stripes — beat Team World in both of their games by two and three points, respectively.
In total, Powell logged 14 minutes, scoring just five points on 2-of-7 shooting and 1-of-2 from the free-throw line. Powell, who competed in the 3-point contest for the second consecutive season, missed all five of his 3-point attempts.
Both of Powell’s two buckets came in the latter affair, where both teams combined to score 93 points a combined 58.6 percent shooting. His first was a left-handed layup over Brandon Ingram, with his second coming on a second-chance opportunity after Jamal Murray’s 3-point attempt was tipped by Jaylen Brown.
“Experience was amazing, no complaints,” Powell said following his first All-Star Game, according to the Sun Sentinel’s Ira Winderman. “Being able to participate in a full weekend for the first time, the Three-Point contest and the All-Star Game. Just enjoying and creating memories with all the guys that I’ve gone up against and competed with and looked up to before I even made it to the NBA. So it’s an A-plus weekend for me.”
In addition to his five points, Powell totaled two rebounds, two assists and one steal.
The 11-year veteran is having a career season with the Heat, averaging 23.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game across 45 contests. He’s shooting 47.4 percent from the floor, 39.6 percent from 3-point range and 84.3 percent from the free-throw line as well.
Even though he’s dealt with multiple injuries, Powell has been arguably the Heat’s best offensive player through the team’s first 56 games. Even though he appeared in 14 minutes on Sunday, let’s hope the 6-foot-2 guard is refreshed heading into the final stretch of the 2025-26 campaign.
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“As of today, I’m committed to the Milwaukee Bucks and I’m committed to the people that I work with — my teammates, the coaching staff, Coach Doc (Rivers), (general manager) John (Horst) and the front office,” Antetokounmpo said. “You will never hear me say I don’t want to be a Milwaukee Buck.” When asked if he expected to be going to Miami at some point he responded “on vacation.”
Time for Riley to look elsewhere for his answer on how to make Miami competitive. He’s just fooling himself and blowing smoke up everyone else’s a** if he plans to devote another offseason to chasing a pipe dream. There are more fish in the sea than the Freak.