Norman Powell has had an All-Star type season for the LA Clippers. In the West which is filled with superstar guards, can Powell make the cut in 2025? While previously being a role player coming off the bench, Powell seems to have found his identity with the Clippers this season. Having to fill a role once possessed by Paul George to complement Kawhi Leonard, Powell is having a career year. Powell has the potential of winning Most Improved Player with his current play, and the league is taking notice. Having played the first 34 games of the season without Leonard, the Clippers have been impressed with Powell’s performance. It may be impressive enough where we could see Powell be selected as an All-Star for the first time.
NBA on TNT Crew Debate Norman Powell as Potential All-Star
On Tuesday, the NBA on TNT crew consisted of Shaquille O’Neal, Jalen Rose, and Vince Carter, with host Adam Lefkoe. In a postgame segment titled “Hey Now, Am I An All-Star?” the crew discussed players with a chance of being selected as an All-Star. The second player to be shown was Powell, and the graphic showed his stats from the season so far.
As of the morning of January 15, Powell has been averaging 23.9 points per game. He has scored 20 or more points in 23 games so far. Powell has also had a solid three-game stretch last week scoring at least 25 points each outing. It’s helpful to know that LA is fifth in the West, prime position for them to make the playoffs.
Blind resume.. are these All-Star worthy numbers?
The Tuesday crew makes their picks
pic.twitter.com/OuJGzwU5Lz
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 15, 2025
While the studio panel praised Powell on his incredible play throughout the season, it would be very difficult to be selected as an All-Star in a star-heavy Western Conference. In the segment, Rose and O’Neal weighed in their opinions if Powell has earned a spot in the All-Star game.
“He’s having an All-Star level performance, but I don’t consider him as All-Star level worthy. He’s doing a terrific job of outplaying expectations and put up big numbers, but I think in the West, because it’s so stacked, and their record is a stout…” – Jalen Rose
“I’m not going to say he’s not All-Star worthy, but I don’t think he’ll get in because, like he said, it’s stacked, a lot of big names ahead of him. And it’s basically numbers and ‘still a popularity contest’… he’s playing well, though.” – Shaquille O’Neal
How Norman Powell Stacks Against the Rest of the West
The third WEST returns for NBA All Star 2025!
Who do you think the West’s starters will be?
Vote today for #NBAAllStar Voting presented by @ATT on the NBA App and https://t.co/Pqxh2EPubW.
: https://t.co/WoseqUiSf1 pic.twitter.com/hCdP1uqY8h
— NBA (@NBA) January 16, 2025
In this year’s All-Star voting, Powell is in 10th place amongst guards for the Western Conference. The latest returns show Powell with a total of 225,556 votes. He will have to do plenty of work to be selected as a reserve this season. With stars like Stephen Curry, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, and other superstars ahead of Powell in terms of voting, the chances for him may be slim.
However, with All-Star voting on the verge of closing and a month away from the All-Star break, there is a small opportunity for Powell to prove that he belongs to be at the All-Star Game in 2025. It will surely be difficult to accomplish in a stacked Western Conference with plenty of All-Star caliber guards. Powell’s performance this season has proved he should at least be in the discussion.
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