Norman Powell said playing for Heat was “childhood dream” and dishes on the trade to Miami
Highlights from new Heat wing Norman Powell’s introductory Zoom news conference on Wednesday, a day after Miami acquired the 21.8 point per game scorer in a three-team trade that sent Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love to Utah:
▪ He said he was surprised by the trade after a very good seasons with the Clippers in which he shot 48.4 percent from the field and 40.4 percent on threes.
“I didn’t know what to think at first. It has been a crazy last couple of weeks, from talking to [Clippers general manager] Lawrence Frank at my exit meeting and what they were telling me.
“It was something I knew was a possibility, from them communicating teams were interested, inquiring about me. But it was made to seem like it wasn’t a high possibility of it happening and they valued me and wanted me to be a Clipper and we were going to figure out.. extension talks” as he enters the final year of his contract.
He was in Europe earlier this week and “when I got the call and said I was traded, it was a shock because you’re not expecting it, just had a career year and you would like to believe you’re going to have some extension talks.”
“Hearing it was Miami, I was really excited.”
Powell said “I’ve had a couple guys I’ve played with who played for the organization said amazing things about the city, the fans, the organization. Thinking back to my childhood, being a big fan of Dwyane Wade. Watching for the Heat. Wanting to play for the Heat.. was a childhood dream. Definitely was a full circle moment for me.”
▪ He said he fits the Heat culture because “I’m extremely hard working. Going to Miami -- I fit the culture perfectly, that grit, that competitiveness, putting in the extra work, the late nights, early mornings. That’s who I am to a T. I’ve hung my hat on making my weaknesses my strengths and my strengths even better.”
▪ He said of the Heat: “They see me as a winning piece and that requires me to sacrifice my game to fit around the guys they’re featuring.”
▪ What does he see himself as after finishing fourth in Sixth Man of the Year voting two years ago but playing well as a starter last season?
“I see myself as a plug and play. I see myself as a key guy, a one, two option that can help carry a team to win... I’ve always seen myself as a go-to guy that can help carry a team, help a team win. I don’t have a big ego of ‘I have to be the main guy.’ I want to win....
“I’ve not been shy to say that I’m a starter. I can be an All Star if given the opportunity. This year, given the opportunity, I showcased that, being in the top 10 of All Star voting and people talking about me being a snub, how I should have made the All Star team. I see myself in the positions of Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, my favorite player....
“I’m a versatile player who can play a multiple of roles and excel in any role. Being able to attack the paint will open up opportunities for others. Me and Bam [Adebayo] in the pick and roll can take pressure off guys.”
▪ On his defense: “I know people have talked about how that’s taken a step back since my Toronto days. I’m really excited to put a main focus on that and get back to guarding, pressuring.”
▪ On the team he’s joining: “Having conversations on and off the court with Bam in passing, I like what they’re building. I like the culture. They compete every night, no matter who’s healthy, who’s in and out. They put a team out that fights for wins, they’re scrappy,.They’re competitive. They’re confident. That’s what I like.
“They’re very versatile too. Bam can play multiple positions and can attack a multitude of ways. Can switch, defend, really athletic.
“Tyler Herro is great off the ball, on the ball, scoring, facilitating. He did a great job this year of getting teammates involved and figuring out when to score, when to be aggressive.
He envisions himself meshing well with Adebayo and Herro.
“I think it will be really good, especially with Davion Mitchell, the way he guards, the way he’s attacking and aggressive... I noticed in the playoffs and play-in, Davion coming in and changing the tempo. That’s really beneficial for us to pick up the pace.
“With me, being versatile on offense, being able to get out in transition and run as well, being able to push the pace and move off the ball with catch and shoots. And being able to operate in the pick and roll, get downhill, will open up opportunities for guys that have catch and shoots that worry about me attacking the paint and putting pressure on the rim.
“With my attacking ability, opening up lobs threats with me and Bam in the pick and roll, and taking up some of the pressure of those guys, being a guy that can initiate plays but also a guy that can finish plays.”
He said “I want to make it easy for Tyler. He was the focal point last year, had a lot of attention on him.”
▪ Does Powell consider himself an underrated player?
“I think I am. I’ve never viewed myself as that but I think I am... People don’t really see what I can bring to the table. Last year was the first full year of people being able to say, ‘this guy is actually really good and can be a go to guy every single night and help a team win.’”
▪ He spoke to Heat president Pat Riley on the telephone on Wednesday after taking medical tests. What feedback has he received?
“Everybody’s texts, Spo [Erik Spoelstra] to Pat to coaching staff, everybody in the organization is super excited. They mentioned how they’ve wanted to get me and have tried to get me for several years now.
“It’s always good to have that initial energy and excitement when you are traded to a new team that they actually want you and had their eye on you for a long time and talking about how they see you can fit into the team and.. how you can make an impact with my scoring and being dynamic and my versatility and being able to do a bunch of different things that can complement the guys they already have.
“It’s always good hearing that going into a situation where they really want you and have been wanting you.
“Pat likes my little floater I’ve developed over the years. Being able to work on both sides of the floor, Tyler on one side, me on the other” is an exciting possibility.
▪ On Wade saying on social media that he’s excited about Powell joining the Heat:
“It’s amazing. Still crazy to me. I actually saw him when I was in Europe [a couple of weeks ago]. Got to talk to him a little bit. Having a guy you modeled your game after, playing style, being able to attack, being 6-3.
“Taking moves and different things from [Wade] and implementing it into my game and talking to him and seeing how he watches my game and knows my game and is proud of me and what I’ve able to accomplish and that he was a motivating factor in my basketball career. Literally two weeks later, to be traded to the Heat and seeing him comment under the post, and then I texted him about it, and he was excited about it. It will be good, especially now, playing for the same organization.”
This story was originally published July 9, 2025 at 4:57 PM.
