標籤: Aplus

As Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson won the 2026 Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star weekend, the team had additional representation from Norman Powell. With Powell earning his first All-Star nomination as a Heat star, there’s no doubt it was an emotional weekend for the guard, who talked about his experience and his focus on transitioning to the team.

Powell has repeatedly stated his goal of wanting to become an All-Star in his career, so after being considered overlooked by many last year with the Los Angeles Clippers, he would finally receive the honor in his first season with Miami. Leading the Heat with 23 points per game and bringing offensive punch to the team with Tyler Herro having an injury-filled season, he earned his spot.

Heat’s Norman Powell speaks on his “amazing” All-Star weekend

In addition to participating in the All-Star Game, representing Jamaica at Team World under the new format, he also competed in the three-point contest, trying to retain the title in Miami after Herro won the title the previous year. Although he didn’t win, it was still an “A-plus” weekend for Powell, who is now looking “on the inside” to lead the Heat.

According to The Miami Herald, Powell said, “The experience was wonderful, no complaints.” “Being able to go to a full weekend, the three-point contest and the All-Star Game for the first time. I’m having fun and making memories with all the guys that I’ve gone against, competed against and looked up to before they even got to the NBA. So it’s an A-plus weekend for me.”

“As a leader, if you want to make a change and be an example for the team and how we want to play and what we want to go out and accomplish, the first thing you have to do is look within yourself,” Powell said. “And so I’ve already had some thoughts and conversations with my coach about … how I need to come out mentally, and what I need to do to get this team on track.”

As part of Team World, Powell played two games off the bench, going scoreless in the first but recording five points in the second. Powell is the 12th player in Heat history to be selected to the All-Star Game, now taking aim at Miami, which is 29-27 and eighth in the Eastern Conference.