Norman Powell Media Availability | July 9, 2025

Norman Powell Media Availability | July 9, 2025

Can you take us through what you thought when you heard about the trade and just what you think? I mean, obviously, you’re leaving a good situation and, you know, what the opportunity here. Um, honestly, I I I didn’t know what to think at first. Um, I mean, it was a it’s been a crazy last couple weeks. Um, just from talking to Lawrence Frank and my exit meeting and what they were telling me. Um yeah, it was something that like I knew was a possibility just from like them communicating that teams um were interested in, you know, inquiring about me um whatnot. Um but um I know it was made it seem like it wasn’t a high possibility of happening and that they valued me and they wanted me to be a Clipper. Um and we’re going to figure out what extension uh looks like and extension talks and things like that. I was in Europe at the time. So, we were waiting until I got back. Um, and then when I got the call and said I was traded, um, obviously it’s a shock. Um, because you’re not expecting it. You just had a career year. Um, and you know, you like to believe that you’re going to think you’re going to have some extension talks and things when you’re back. Um, but hearing that it was Miami, um, I was really excited. Um, like you said, I’ I’ve had a couple guys uh that I’ve played with uh play for the team, the organization. um they’ve said amazing things about the city, about the fans, about the organization. Um and then just uh thinking back to like my childhood and being a big fan of Dorian Wade and watching the Heat growing up and wanting to play uh for the Heat organization as one of the teams um is a childhood dream that you want to play for. Um is definitely a cool full circle moment for me. Um but yeah, I was uh shocked to to see uh that I was traded in here, that I was traded, but I’m excited about the opportunity. Norman, like you said, one more for me. Like like you said, you are coming off a career year. Um what went into that? I mean, why why is this version of you the best version of you that we’ve seen so far? Thank you. Um yeah, I think honestly it’s just uh the opportunity. You know, I’m extremely hardworking. Um I think um going into Miami, I fit the culture perfectly. Um just uh that grit, that competitiveness, putting in the work, the extra work, um the late nights, early mornings. Um, you know, that’s who I am to a te. Um, you know, I’ve hung my hat on putting in and working on my craft and my skill set, making my weaknesses, my strengths, uh, my strengths, uh, even better. Um, so I think, uh, for me it was all about the opportunity. You know, when you’re coming into different organizations and, you know, they’re they’re built for, uh, competing for a championship, you know, they have their their franchise guys and guys that they’re building around. So, you have to play a role, you know, and um that requires sacrifice. And throughout my career, I’ve been blessed to be on playoff teams, teams that want to win for a champ win a championship and compete. Um and they see me as a a winning piece. Um and that requires me to sacrifice my game um to fit around the guys that they’re they’re featuring. Um so, I think that’s what it was, a lot of sacrifice in my career. Um taking a backseat to those guys um and give myself up to to help the team win. Um, and this year, you know, having the the full opportunity and chance to really showcase uh my game um and what I can fully do when given the opportunity and um having a bigger leash to to go out there and make mistakes and learn um and go out there and uh be a focal point for a team. All right, up next we have Winderman, Suns Sentinel. Go ahead. Hey, Norman. Uh first of all, uh welcome. Um I’m just curious. You began your career as a defender in Toronto and you will look that way. You’ve I don’t want to say you’ve come full circle, but now you’re s seen more as a streak scorer, that type of player. You excelled as a sixth man three and two years ago, fourth place in that voting. Then you got a chance to start, showed you could do that. What do you want to be at this point? And who are you at this point? Does it bother you when people say, “Oh, he’s a scorer.” Or, “Oh, he’s a sixth man.” What do you see yourself, especially honestly in a contract year? Um, I see myself as a guy that um, you know, obviously he’s a plug and play, but I see myself as a key guy. You know, a one, two option that can and help uh, carry a team to win. You know, I’m a basketball player. I know everybody has, you know, their own opinions and their own thoughts about u what each player’s role should be or or what their limitations and things that like that are, but I I never believed that for myself. I always saw myself as uh, a go-to guy, you know, um, that can help u carry a team, help a team win. um you know and uh I’ve always been concerned about winning you know so um I don’t you know have a big ego of of I have to be um the main guy um like I want to win at the end of the day and going into these situations especially when I was early in Toronto um you’re a second round pick you know guys wanted you to be overseas whatever the story was um and so you’re trying to find the way of the stick in the league and uh get opportunity to play and showcase your skill set and that was by by playing defense you know that’s what um got me um to the league. That’s what um got me on the court early and then uh taking advantage of the opportunity and showing that, you know, you can um handle more responsibility. Um but I see myself as as one of those guys. You know, I’ve not been shy to say that I’m a starter. Um that I can be an all-star given the the opportunity. And I think like I said, uh this year given the free reign and and the the opportunity that was in front of me, I showcased that, you know, um being top 10 in all-star voting and people talking about me being a snub and how I should have made the All-Star team. Like that’s how I see myself um in the positions of Dwayne Wade, Kobe, my favorite players. Like that’s how I saw myself growing up and that’s what I believe myself could be. Um being in the right situation, the right opportunity. But um the talks about my role or how I should be or what I should do or my limitations. Um I never uh listen to that. I use that as fuel to my fire because I know what I can bring to the table. Um and I know um the type of player I am and what I can do. I’m a versatile player that can be played in a multitude uh positions, a multitude of roles, and excel in uh any role that’s given to me. Thank you. Appreciate it. Welcome. Thank you. All right. Up next, we’re going Zachary Weinberger. Clutch points. Go ahead. Hey, Norman. Welcome to Miami. I just wanted to ask you about again when you look at this team, there’s a lot of depth here, but the main two players, the main two captains driving it is Tyler Herobio. Can you just kind of talk about what you’ve seen from them? I don’t know if there’s been any communication, but from your point of view and just playing around them, seeing them on TV, whatever the case may be. Uh, how excited are you to kind of play with them and how do you see yourself fitting even with them? Um, I’m really excited, you know, competing against them um throughout the years, you know, having the the conversations uh on and off the court with Bam um and passing and things like that. You know, I like what they’re building. I like the culture, you know. Um they they compete every single night, you know, no matter who’s healthy, who’s in out the lineup. Um, they’re putting a a full team out there that’s going to compete and fight for wins. They’re scrappy. They’re gritty. Um, they’re competitive. They’re very confident. Um, and that’s what I like, you know. Um, they’re very versatile, too. Um, BAM can play mult multiple positions. Um, can attack multitude of ways defensively. Um, can switch, can defend different positions, protect the rim, really athletic. Um, Tyler Herro, he’s great u off the ball, on the ball, scoring, facilitating. Um, I think he did a great job this year, um, getting assists, getting his teammates involved, and figuring out when to score, when to be aggressive. Um, and I think with me, um, being, uh, versatile on offense, being able to, you know, get out in transition and run as well, uh, fast-paced team, be able to push the pace and, uh, move off the ball with catch and shoots, coming off pin downs, and then being able to operate in the pick and roll as well, get downhill, um, uh, putting force on the paint. I think that uh will open up uh opportunities for guys that have catch and shoots for teams to have to worry about me attacking the paint and putting pressure on that rim um with my attacking ability, opening up lob threats and stuff like that with me and baming to pick and roll um and taking some of the pressure off of of those guys. Um just with the way I’m able to operate off the ball, being a guy that can uh initiate plays and and attack that way, but also being a guy that can uh finish plays on uh the second side of of the offense. Um, and then also being able to switch and do a multitude of things uh defensively as well. I’m actually excited to um, you know, put my imprint on the defensive end, uh, coming in with this organization. Um, I know people have talked about how that’s taken a step back since my Toronto days, but um, I’m really excited to um, you know, put a a main focus on that and get back to guarding and pressuring and picking up and, uh, causing havoc on that end. Thank you and welcome again. Thank you. Right. Up next, Wes Goldberg lockdown. Heat. Go ahead. Hey, Norm. Welcome to Miami. Um, you kind of talked a little bit about your fit there with Tyler, obviously, and you were kind of a borderline all-star last year. Tyler here was obviously an all-star. Then they go ahead and add DaVon Mitchell at the deadline and then resigned him. Do you think that you guys can work the three of you on the court at one time? You, DaVon, and Tyler here. I know you played a little bit of the three last year in LA. What do you think about that trio? uh you guys playing together. Um I think it’d be really good. I mean, especially with with Devon, the way he he guards, the way he’s intense, the way he’s attacking, he’s aggressive. Um I think uh like I said, he’s able to uh get downhill as well and um uh put pressure on defenses and and find other guys and and know when to be a scorer, when to be a facilitator, and uh when to be aggressive and and let the the game come to him. Um, and I think like like I said with me, I think just being able to play off ball, you know, like like I can be dominant and be on the ball and make things happen, but also make it easy for uh for Tyler, you know, he he was the focal point last year and u you know, he had a lot of attention on him and uh he grew as well, learning when to be aggressive and let the game come to him and and get his guys involved as well. um as a as a guy who’s a dynamic scorer, a very efficient scorer, um being able to be efficient without the ball and find ways to uh be efficient moving off the ball and things like that, I think it um is really beneficial with all three of us. Um being able to be out there offensively um and then defensively just being able to switch and and help and communicate and talk and uh be a team that can uh kind of pick the pace up. I’ve noticed when watching them in the playoffs and in the play in um with D Mitch him coming in and and and changing the tempo and the energy of the game, I think it’ll be really beneficial for us to be able to um pick pace up and pick our defensive intensity up as well. Thank you. All right, up next, Mike Kuno, Channel 4. Go ahead. Hey, Norman. What’s going on? Welcome to Miami. Uh just one from me. Uh, I notic a lot of Heat Heat fans have been excited about trading for you here. I also saw a lot of people on social media say you’re an underrated player. I’m just wondering if you ever viewed yourself as underrated in this league. Um, I think I am. Uh, I never viewed myself as that, but I think I am just from like the talks and the publicity and um, the promotion side of it in my years, you know. Um, like I said, I’ve played with uh some pretty dynamic um allstars and superstar Hall of Fame players. So, um, no matter how well I’ve been playing, um, or what I’ve been doing or accomplishing on the court, kind of taking a backseat when you’re playing with guys like Demar and Kyle, you know, Kawawaii and PG and Russ and James and Dame and CJ, you know, is kind of taking it back because those guys are the ones being promoted. Um, and you’re kind of in the background doing your thing, still killing it, still um uh making big uh moves and uh making uh like achieving milestones and accomplishments, but it’s not being publicized or talked about as much. Um, but yeah, I think underrated in the sense of people don’t really understand or see what I can bring to the table throughout the course of my year. And I think um last year was like the full year of people being able to see like, man, this guy’s actually really good and uh can be uh somebody that can uh a go-to guy every single night and uh and help a team win. Right. Up next, Barry Jackson, Miami Herald. Go ahead. Hi, Norm. Good to have you here. I wondered if you had a chance to talk to Spo yet or to Pat Riley and the feedback you got from them. Yeah. Um I haven’t got the talk chance to talk uh on the phone. Uh when I got traded, I was in Europe. Um and then uh flying back and then uh my nephew was born. Um so it’s been a crazy last 48 72 hours for me. Um today after I got all my medical stuff done, I was able to uh talk to Pat on the phone. Um but uh everybody’s text from Spo to Pat um and the coaching staff and everybody in the organization um they’re super excited. Um they they’ve mentioned how they’ve wanted to get me and I’ve tried to get me for several years now. Um and so um it’s always good to to have that initial energy and excitement uh when you’re traded to a new team that they actually want you and they’ve been had their eye on you for a long time now. um and talking about how um they see that you can fit into this uh team and help them um move forward and uh get over uh the humps and seeing um how you can make an impact just with my scoring and and being dynamic. Um and just my versatility and being able to do a bunch of different things on the floor that can complement um the guys that they already have. Um so I’m super excited. You know, like I said, it’s always good hearing that going into a situation where they really want you and have been wanting you. Um, and there’s a lot of opportunity and they can see me filling that void. Um, so, um, yeah, it’s been good. Um, Pat’s talked about my game. Um, he likes my little floater that I’ve developed, uh, over the years. Um, and just being able to work on uh both sides of of of the floor, Tyler on one side, me on the other, and being able to operate when teams are focused in, double teaming other guys, and being able to, like I said, put pressure on the rim on that second side or or even being a ball handler. Thanks so much, Nor. All right, up next, Brendan Toby. Brendan Tobin, WQAM. Go ahead. Hey, Nor, welcome to Miami. Uh, just going back to you said about your DW, you know, growing up and and watching a little bit. saw him on social media, was excited to see you joining the organization. Even as a guy who’s competed against him, I guess what does that mean to to to a guy that you admired? Seems like he’s pretty pumped to have you in an organization he obviously flourished in. Yeah. Um it’s amazing. Um honestly, it’s still crazy to me. Um I actually uh saw him uh when I was in Europe and uh in Con uh for Sports Beach. Um so I got to talk to him a little bit. Um, you know, and having a a guy that you’ve like modeled your game after. Um, you know, um, playing style, being able to attack, being a 6’3. I’ve talked about it on p podcast and interviews before. Um, how I’ve taken the mentality of Kobe and just the approach of sacrificing, putting in um, hourless uh, uh, amount of time on your game and your craft. and then taking the skill set um and and DWade and you know obviously putting my own twist to it but um taking moves and different things from him uh implementing into my game um and talking to him and seeing how uh uh he watches my game and knows my game and he’s proud of me and what I’ve been able to do and accomplish and um that he was a motivating factor um in my basketball career and then literally two and a half weeks later you know I get traded uh to the Heat um and seeing him uh uh comment uh under the post and then I texted him um about it and he was excited about it. Um so I think it would be good especially now uh playing for the same organization. And lastly we have David Lang, WPLG. Go ahead. You’re on mute. There we go. I’ll unmute it. There we go. Hey, sorry about that. There’s so much uh young talent on this team. You say you’re coming in, you know, as a veteran. What is it that you can do both on and off the floor to help these younger guys sort of become what they can be in the NBA and learn how to be pros? Um I think uh the biggest thing that I’ve learned uh in my 10 year uh career going on 11 um is just continuing to pass down knowledge the same way um it was given to me as a young guy coming in from the vets um that I had um in Toronto. Demar, Kyle, Patrick Patterson, James Johnson, um those guys talking to me, um showing me the ropes and how to be a professional. Um how to take things in stride that it’s going to be ups and downs. Um but staying committed, um to the grind, committed to the P process, um and putting in those extra hours, those long hours, um and getting better, you know, and and using um the adversity or whatever situation that they’re going through um as motivation uh to get better and and and take advantage of opportunity that is in front of them. And then leading by example. I’m a guy that’s in the gym consistently early, late, before practice, after practice, and putting in extra amount of time um to maximize my abilities. Um so leading by example that way. Um there’s there’s nothing that um they can put me through or tell me to do that um I haven’t or won’t do myself. Um, so leading by example and showing them the ropes um, and how to get better and how to take advantage of uh, the NBA and the game of basketball itself and how it can provide um, for you on and off the court um, not just financially but um, as a person as well. I think that’s the biggest thing. Um, just being able to pass down knowledge and how to take advantage and be ready for the opportunity when it comes because it is a long season. I know how it feels to be not play. Um, I know how it feels to play and then be benched and not play at all, you know, and work your way back up. um there’s not one role that I haven’t been in um or experienced. So, um, just my knowledge and experience, um, throughout my career, I can pass that down to them and and help them figure out their own path and their own trajectory. All right.

Norman Powell spoke to the media via Zoom following Monday’s official trade announcement.

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