NBA All-Star weekend is underway and former Toronto Raptors champion Norman Powell is making his debut in the three-point contest.
Powell is arguably the frontrunner for the Most Improved Player of the Year award. He is scoring 24.2 points on 49.6 percent shooting from the field and 42.8 percent shooting from long-range.
After Paul George’s departure, the 31-year-old veteran stepped into that void and is putting together a much better season than George.
While there is a case to be made for Powell to win this three-point contest, he is joined by other elite shooters.
The other contestants are New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland, Detroit Pistons’ Cade Cunningham, Miami Heat sharpshooter Tyler Herro, Golden State Warriors’ Buddy Hield, Brooklyn Nets’ Cameron Johnson and Milwaukee Bucks’ star Damian Lillard who is looking for the three-point contest 3-peat.
Obviously, the man to beat is Lillard as he ran away with this competition last year. Hopefully, it is more entertaining this time around with all capable shooters participating.
Although, this contest tends to separate in-game shooters from truly knockdown shooters. Players like Hield, Johnson and sometimes Powell tend to feed off of playmakers on their team.
Players who are able to self-create, take and make their own shots tend to do better. On the other hand, stationary shooting and a time limit can apply pressure as well.
Ultimately, Powell is viewed as an underdog in this year’s three-point contest. But, it would not be surprising to see him make a few rounds and possibly contend for the trophy.
Norman Powell nearly quit basketball
All things considered, it is great to see Norman Powell blossom into an all-around scorer in L.A. However, the journey has not been easy for him as he encountered plenty of challenges throughout his basketball career.
In an interview with Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Powell revealed that he nearly quit basketball on several occasions.
Have you subscribed to the Raptors Nation YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!
