Norman Powell’s Isolation Brilliance Has the Heat Cooking - and the League Taking Notice
Norman Powell has always been a bucket. That’s never been in question. But what’s happening in Miami this season isn’t just Powell doing what he’s always done - it’s Powell evolving, thriving, and turning isolation basketball into a science.
In his first season with the Heat, Powell is putting up a career-best 23.7 points per game, and he’s doing it with ruthless efficiency: shooting 48.5% from the field, 41.6% from deep, and 84.6% at the line. Those numbers aren’t just impressive - they’re All-Star worthy, and for the first time in his career, Powell is firmly in that conversation.
The secret sauce? Miami’s offensive system is giving Powell the keys and telling him to go to work.
He’s on pace to more than double his previous high in isolation plays, and the results have been nothing short of elite. According to Second Spectrum data, the Heat are scoring a staggering 127.2 points per 100 possessions when Powell isolates - the best mark in the league and the highest single-season iso efficiency tracked since 2013 for high-volume players.
That kind of production doesn’t happen by accident. Fred Katz called Powell a “one-on-one savant,” and the numbers back it up. He’s not just getting his - he’s doing it with surgical precision, punishing defenders off the dribble, creating space with veteran craft, and hitting shots from all three levels.
Powell’s timing couldn’t be better. He’s in the final year of his deal, making $20.5 million, and is extension-eligible through June 30.
If no deal gets done, he’ll hit unrestricted free agency on July 1. Given how he’s playing, he won’t be short on suitors - but Miami may want to lock this version of Powell in before that happens.
Dink Pate Navigates the NCAA Maze While Putting Up Numbers in the G League
Dink Pate’s journey has never followed the traditional path, and it doesn’t look like that’s changing anytime soon.
The former G League Ignite wing, now suiting up for the Westchester Knicks, is exploring a potential return to college basketball - a rare move for someone who’s already dipped his toes into the NBA system. His agent, Sam Permut of Roc Nation, confirmed that Pate is looking into college options, which could open up at least two seasons of NCAA eligibility starting next year.
But here’s where things get complicated.
Pate declared for the 2025 NBA Draft and kept his name in. More importantly, he signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Knicks in September - a non-guaranteed NBA deal that includes a small bonus if the player sticks with the team’s G League affiliate for at least 60 days. That’s exactly what Pate has done, logging heavy minutes and averaging 18.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists across 27 games.
The NCAA, however, has drawn a hard line in recent months. President Charlie Baker stated in December that any player who has signed an NBA deal - even a two-way - would be ineligible to return to college basketball. What’s not clear is how Exhibit 10 deals are classified under that policy.
For now, Pate is balling. He’s proving he belongs on the floor, and he’s keeping his options open.
If a guaranteed NBA deal comes his way, the college question becomes moot. Until then, it’s a waiting game - one that could set a precedent for future prospects navigating the gray area between pro ball and the NCAA.
Jusuf Nurkic Loves Life in Utah - Even With Trade Rumors Swirling
Jusuf Nurkic might be sidelined with a toe injury, but his energy hasn’t gone anywhere - and neither has his love for the Utah Jazz.
Despite logging his first string of DNP-CDs this season, Nurkic made it clear he’s still all-in on Utah. “If it’s up to me, I’m not leaving,” he said. “Jazz for life.”
That’s a strong statement from a veteran on an expiring $19.4 million contract, especially with the trade deadline looming on February 5. Nurkic’s name has surfaced in trade chatter, but he’s not sweating it. Around the organization, he’s viewed as a valuable presence - a screen-setting machine who leads the league in screen assists and fits seamlessly alongside a young, developing core.
And while nothing is guaranteed ahead of the deadline, there’s even been talk - hypothetically - about a return in free agency next season, potentially as a backup to Walker Kessler. That’s not a common scenario for a player who could be moved, but it speaks to the mutual respect between Nurkic and the Jazz.
“You can’t really control a lot of things,” Nurkic said. “But I obviously love being here.”
In a league where players often keep things close to the vest, Nurkic’s honesty is refreshing. He’s not just saying the right things - he’s living them. Whether he stays or goes, it’s clear the big man has found a home in Utah.