There are plenty of questions heading into the LA Clippers' season. After Paul George left town to join the Philadelphia 76ers, a major roster overhaul was soon to follow. The result is a Clippers team that will very loosely resemble its iteration from last season.
As such, there are a lot more unknowns when it comes to this team than there have been in years past. We still do not know what LA's starting lineup will look like exactly, and Ty Lue has voiced that there will be competition for starting spots.
With all that said, it seems one player in particular is being intentional about going after a spot in the starting lineup. At Clippers media day on Monday, Norman Powell expressed his desire to be among the first five players on the floor.
Norman Powell: "I want to be the starting two-guard. The opportunity is in front of me... I'm ready for that role, the good, the bad, the ugly. I've put the work in."
— Farbod Esnaashari (@Farbod_E) September 30, 2024
Powell wants to be the Clippers' starting shooting guard
"I want to be the starting two-guard," said Powell. "The opportunity is in front of me ... I'm ready for that role, the good, the bad, the ugly. I've put the work in." Getting that starting nod would be a huge leap for Norm, who has historically operated as the Clippers' sixth man.
The last two seasons, Powell has finished fourth in Sixth Man of the Year voting, putting up 17.0 and 13.9 points per game in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons respectively. He has done it while shooting north of 48% from the floor, and impressive mark for the type of volume he is shooting on. Norm has attempted just under 11 shots per game over those two seasons.
We already know that this Clippers team needs another star, and perhaps Powell can be it. It would probably still make more sense to add more talent through a trade or free agency if this team is to truly compete for a championship. And yet, if Powell can be ultra-reliable as a starter, it may get them one step closer regardless.