Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said he asked veteran guard Norman Powell if he was OK with being called up not long after the Los Angeles Clippers traded him to Miami.
“Not long after his time with the Heat, who traded for him last summer, head coach Erik Spoelstra wanted to take a look at his new player,” wrote Fred Katz of The Athletic.
“Miami’s coach had called Powell out in front of the team more than once earlier in the season. He sent him a text message with a picture of Heat legend Dwyane Wade that included Wade’s weight of 222 pounds and body fat of 6.2 percent. Powell was 235 and 12 percent, respectively.
Even though Spoelstra and Powell haven’t had much of a relationship yet, it seems the head coach was looking to see how much he could push the 32-year-old.
“But the two didn’t know each other well, and the coach had to make sure Powell could take heat,” Katz wrote.
“‘Is this okay?’ Spoelstra asked him privately.
“You can call me any day,” Powell replied.
Powell has been a great addition for the Heat in 2025-26, and he is the main reason the team is in the mix for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
While All-Star Tyler Herro missed much of the 2025-26 season with an injury, Powell has stepped up to become the Heat’s top offensive option. He is averaging 23.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 41.6 percent from beyond the arc.
It’s great to see that Powell was so willing to let Spoelstra coach him, and it shows that he’s been able to adapt to the Heat’s culture quite well in his first season in South Beach.
Miami currently holds the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference, but is just one game out of 5th place as the league approaches the trade deadline. Powell, who is in the final season of his contract, has certainly made an effort to stay with the Heat long-term.
He averages the most points per game in his NBA career and is likely to be an All-Star in the Eastern Conference.
Since Powell appears to have developed a good relationship with Spoelstra, it is possible that he and the Heat can form a long-term partnership when he is a free agent this offseason.
For now, the veteran will focus on getting this Heat team to the playoffs, ideally by finishing in the top six during the regular season.