Toronto Raptors’ Norman Powell’s road to championship

BY KAYLA KARIM

Although many may call him by his nickname, ‘Stormin Norman’, ‘Norm’ or just simply ‘Powell’ Norman Powell does not stray from his true self. Since joining the Toronto Raptors in 2015, he has been known to inspire the people of Toronto with his ‘never give up’ mentality and to always strive for your best.

Powell began preaching his mantra to “Understand the Grind” when he began his career. To him, those three words are more than just a phrase.

“It’s a lifestyle approach and attitude that has allowed me to be in the position I am today. It’s a string of three powerful words that serve as a constant reminder to never give up. It’s going to be hard, yes. There are going to be times of strife and struggle. Nobody is promised anything – you have to work for it. I worked for it. I spent four years at UCLA and slid all the way to the end of the 2^nd  round in the NBA draft. But I kept working. I stayed ready. I stayed professional”.

Norman Powell started his basketball journey in California where he led his high school team to consecutive California Interscholastic Federation Championships in 2009 and 2010. After receiving MVP awards, and leading his team to league titles, Powell took his talents to UCLA. In 2013-14 Norman Powell started all 37 games and was third on his team in scoring. He became an offensive threat and a solid defender. As the years went by, he began to perfect his craft by becoming more aggressive with taking the ball to the basket and improved his dunks. With three years of college experience under his belt, Powell was informed that he was unlikely to be drafted which pushed him to return for a final year with the UCLA Bruins.

On June 25^th, 2015 Powell was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 46^th overall pic in the 2015 NBA Draft but was traded to the Toronto Raptors where he has played ever since.

Staying true to his intention, Powell powered through and fought against adversity with the Toronto Raptors. A year after joining the organization, he was a key player off the bench that made a significant impact every time he was on the court. From 2016 as a bench player, to 2019 as an NBA Champion, Powell has understood the grind.

Today Norman Powell’s “Understand the Grind” motto has been translated onto apparel for men, women along with accessories. He has also teamed up with Black Lives Matter to promote the movement.