23 PPG Clippers scorer credits Kobe Bryant's influence for helping him reach potential All-Star level
Kobe Bryant has influenced a lot of basketball players in the world with his work ethic and dedication to his craft. The late, great Bryant’s legacy remains in the NBA, with most of the players right now looking up to him for inspiration. Some of them mirror their habits to his as they strive to be the best version of themselves.
One of those whom Bryant has heavily influenced is current LA Clippers star Norman Powell.
Powell has been enjoying a career resurgence this season, averaging 23.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists for the Clippers, whose roster has been missing its best player, Kawhi Leonard.
Powell credited Bryant, who was synonymous with the city, for bringing the Lakers five championships in his 20 years with the franchise, for laying the groundwork for his workouts. He also credits the late legend for helping him get motivated to work every single day.
“Kobe always talked about multiple workouts during the day, getting up super early. And that started early,” Powell said in an interview with The Athletic.
“During lunch in high school, I was not going to eat; I was getting shots up in the gym. ‘Cause that’s what it took. My favorite player said that. And I was like, this is what I’m going to do. Whatever he said was the road for success, I was going to follow it,” he added.
Powell looked back to the time he interacted with Kobe, who then gave him advice on how to be an elite player.
“He’s just telling me how you raise a killer, how you become a killer in the league. And just removing the emotional side of the game, and just thinking tactically (about) your approach.
"And that’s what stuck with me, that tip he told me on the side — just removing emotion and thinking tactically when you’re out there playing, and thinking the game through, rather than, ‘Oh, I missed a shot, now I’m up and down, I got a turnover, I got a bad call.’ Remove all that. That doesn’t matter. What matters is the task at hand,” he said.
Norman Powell makes use of opportunity presented by injuries to leading Clippers players
Last year, the Clippers had Paul Goerge, Russell Westbrook, Leonard and Harden, making it hard for Powell to find his place in the rotation. Now, with a less crowded roster, Powell is flourishing.
After finishing last year with just 13.3 PPG, Powell increased his production by nearly 10 points per game. He has also been entrusted with a starting spot, after only starting in three games last year.
Powell also shoots 48.7 percent from 3-point range this NBA season on a career-high 7.9 attempts per game, a massive jump from his 43.5 clip last year.
While the Clippers await Leonard’s return to the lineup, Powell is expected to fill the starting shooting guard role for the team for the rest of the season.