Norman Powell has finally developed into something roughly resembling the player that many Raptors fans thought he could be for so long. He’s averaging a cool 15 points per game, playing a big role on a good team. But Raptors fans are too busy getting distracted by all the shiny new toys on their roster to really give him the attention he deserves.
I understand. Rookies, and the allure of the unknown that they represent, are the most fun things in the whole NBA. Especially if, like is the case with most of them in Toronto, they’re undrafted. Every game, every possession is analyzed closely, fans watching with purpose to glean as much they can.
But you don’t want to forget about the toys from a few years ago in favor of the hot new thing. Powell was once that overperforming rookie, the player Raptors fans could rub in other teams’ fanbases’ faces. He’s better than ever now, but there is no more rubbing of him in anyone’s face. He’s just another young-ish player on a reasonable contract.
He’s been out with an injury for a while now, and to be honest, even I, lover of all things role-player, didn’t notice his absence much. But now he’s back, and it looks like he hasn’t missed a beat at all.