Miami Heat’s new basketball player from Jamaica, Norman Powell, expressed his readiness to compete in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Pre-Qualifiers. The event will be held in Mexico and Chile on August 8-10. As reported on the FIBA website, Powell stated that Jamaica is prepared to secure one of the four spots in the American zone qualifiers for the 2027 World Cup, scheduled for November.
With his championship title in the NBA 2019 with the Toronto Raptors, Powell mentioned that the Jamaican national team is determined to work hard and fight for their spot. As he embarks on his 11th season in the NBA, his first season with the Heat, Powell is committed to representing his family’s home country.
At 32 years old, he believes his playing style aligns well with the international basketball atmosphere, which emphasizes physicality. Powell is eager to learn the international rules and styles of play. His experience with the national team has been exceptional, feeling welcomed by teammates, coaching staff, and everyone involved.
Jamaica hopes that Powell will pave the way for other NBA players to join the squad, including Nick Richards, the Thompson twins Amen and Ausar, Josh Minott, and the Champagnie brothers Justin and Julian. Following the pre-qualifiers, Powell will shift his focus to preparing for the NBA 2025-2026 season with the Miami Heat.
Acquired through a three-team trade in July, Powell is expected to enhance the team’s offense and provide leadership alongside players like Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell, Nikola Jovic, and Simone Fontecchio. Last season, Powell achieved an average of 21.9 points per game, the highest in his career, with a 42% three-point shooting accuracy while playing for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Norman Powell, born in San Diego, California, USA, on May 25, 1993, plays as a shooting guard or small forward, standing around 1.91 meters tall. He pursued his college basketball career with the UCLA Bruins from 2011 to 2015 before being selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft. Shortly after, he was traded to the Toronto Raptors, where he evolved into a key player and won the NBA championship in 2019.
Known for his explosive playing style, proficient attacking the rim, solid long-range shooting, and scoring crucial points in NBA playoff games, Powell transitioned to the Portland Trail Blazers in March 2021, then joined the Los Angeles Clippers in 2022 before signing with the Miami Heat in 2025. With strong ties to Jamaica through his family heritage, he now strengthens the Jamaican national basketball team.
