Norman Powell can’t remember the last time he was around this many rookies.
At this point in his career, it’s rare to experience a first. But that’s how it feels in Chicago, where he sticks out as a 33-year-old veteran among a gaggle of first- through third-year players.
Powell doesn’t mind. He knows his value as a player. Even more, he values his role as a leader.
As the Bulls’ only free-agent signee this summer, Powell knows his role. The Bulls don’t need his 3-point shooting or facilitation. They need his expertise. If they’re going to get this rebuild right, it starts and ends with developing young stars such as Caleb Wilson.
And while coaching staffs and player development resources are crucial to molding a young player, nothing can surpass the value of a solid vet in the locker room. Powell is eager to provide that guiding hand.
“It’s going to be ups and downs, some great days, some bad days,” Powell said. “There’s going to be days that you feel like you don’t want to go, but you still do it. (I want to) just show them that no matter where you start in your career, you can always keep getting better. You can always keep developing into the player that you want to be.”
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Powell has a stern exterior, but he’s also quick to smile. Sitting in on the final moments of Matas Buzelis’ media day news conference Monday, Powell leaned forward when the third-year forward was asked a question about his own veteran status.
Buzelis voiced his appreciation for Powell’s work ethic, his openness to younger teammates, his calm articulation as a leader.
“You like that, Norman?” Buzelis asked, glancing over at the veteran.
“Yeah, yeah,” Powell said as he scrunched up his face in an expression of mock consideration. “Don’t forget the late-night workouts too.”
To Powell, the period before the preseason is about letting teammates learn each other. Throughout the summer, the younger players peppered Powell with questions: how he sustained growth so deep into his career, how his mentality changed as he got older, what still keeps him going in the sport.
Powell likes to understand a player’s story, how he ended up in this specific moment in his life and his career. His own story is a winding one — a breakout career at UCLA, a period of fighting for minutes by playing in the D-League, a supporting role in the Toronto Raptors’ run to the 2019 championship.
Powell entered the league in 2015, when new Bulls coach Tiago Splitter was playing one of his final NBA seasons in Atlanta. In the decade since, Powell has played for four teams and appeared in nine postseasons.
It’s hard to convey all of that life experience into a few conversations with a rookie. Powell is starting at the beginning with the youngest players on the Bulls roster.
Wilson isn’t accustomed to playing more than twice a week, which means he’ll need a crash course in recovery habits and in-season pacing. Buzelis is older and already has learned some tricks of the trade — for instance, hiring a personal chef over the summer to improve his diet and keep adding weight as he grows older.
But the bulk of this roster’s core still is learning as it goes.
“My role has changed so much in this league, so I can help them no matter where they’re at,” Powell said.
Powell knows this is his job this season. Every question he fielded on media day involved his relationship to others — teammates, the coaching staff — rather than his goals for his own play.
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Powell doesn’t see himself, though, as an aging star on the downcurve of his career. Last season he earned his first All-Star selection while averaging 21.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists for the Miami Heat. He shot 38% behind the 3-point arc, not far off his 39.6% career mark.
Sure, it took a long time to get to this apex of his career. But to Powell, that doesn’t mean anything is ending anytime soon.
There’s another way this could end. Powell is the most accomplished player on the Bulls roster. He has logged 91 playoff games. If he continues to meet his performance standards from last season, he would be a tempting prospect at the trade deadline for any team wishing to bolster its offense for a postseason push.
The Bulls signed Powell to help build their culture — but they also acquired him as a potential trade asset who could bring a rebuilding team some serious draft capital.
“I’m in the present,” Powell said. “I’m not worried about anything else outside of that. My job is to be here, be a leader for this team, help these guys, help get wins, help establish a winning culture. My job is to be a leader.
“I’m not worried about or (haven’t) thought about what the future looks like and teams and trades and things like that. That’s out of my control. My job is to be here. I want to be here. I’m excited to be here.”