After representing Jamaica on Team World at the NBA-All Star Game, Miami Heat guard Norman Powell says the experience was surreal and is hoping he can continue to mentor players from the island as they try to achieve their goals.

2019 NBA champion Powell made his All-Star debut on Sunday at the Intuit Dome, home of the Los Angeles Clippers in California, playing both matches for Team World in their match up against the USA Stripes and Stars teams.

This year’s contest saw the NBA introduce a new format where a team of the league’s international stars including Powell, battl two squads of American players in two 12-minute games.

Team World, which included NBA MVP and champion Nikola Jokic and French superstar Victor Wembanyama, failed to progress to the final match-up as they lost 35-27 to Team USA Stars, which featured the likes of Olympic champion Anthony Edwards and potential Jamaica representative Scottie Barnes, and went down 45-48 to Team USA Stripes, which included four-time NBA champion Lebron James and two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant.

In both games, Powell played a combined 14 minutes off the bench, registering five points, two rebounds and two assists.

The 32-year-old was also involved in the three-point contest last Saturday, finishing fifth with a score of 23 with Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard winning the event.

Although he was unable to get top honours in both events, Powell says he enjoyed being with the best in the world.

“[The] experience was amazing, no complaints. Being able to participate in a full weekend for the first time, the Three-Point contest and the All-Star Game. Just enjoying and creating memories with all the guys that I’ve gone up against and competed with and looked up to before I even made it to the NBA. So it’s an A-plus weekend for me,” he said.

It was also a homecoming for Powell, who was traded by the Clippers to the Heat last summer. He believes participating is one of the greatest moments of his career.

“I think this completes the story,” he said. “I think it’s like something that you can’t even write down or think of. It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, the All-Star Game is in LA. Now I’m definitely trying to make it.’ I think it just happens that way.

“I really thought that I’d be an All-Star last year with [the Clippers] and it didn’t happen. Moves are made and then the venue is actually where you just got traded from, and you get selected to be one and go back there in front of the fans, in front of that organisation. I think it’s just a nice little Easter egg to the story of my career.”

Although it was announced that he was representing Jamaica, it was further emphasised as his All-Star jersey had the Jamaican flag just above his name.

He became just the second Jamaican international to play in the event, joining former Indiana Pacers centre Roy Hibbert. Powell made his debut for Jamiaca last summer to help them qualify for the ongoing FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.

American-born Powell, whose father is Jamaican, says he plans to further invest in the local programme and hopes to be part of the system long-term.

“[Playing for Jamaica] brought a new found love and passion for the game. Honestly being around those guys, you know, it kind of brings you back to, like, reality, back to when you’re growing up and trying to figure out and learn about my background and where I come from. Being able to talk to them and hear their stories where they come from and then just how much they’ve looked up to me, It’s kind of crazy,” he said.

“So I’m just trying to shed some light to them. A lot of our young players, I’m trying to make their way, carve their path, get scholarships and things like that. So as much information in game that I can give them that was passed on to me, I’ll try to help them navigate how they can make it and be successful in this field whether that’s getting scholarships, finding a home overseas and what it takes to really grind and put the work in. But it’s honestly been a really humbling and great experience for me.”

Powell now turns his attention to the remainder of the regular season where he averages 23 points for the Heat. The Heat are currently eighth in the Eastern Conference, three games shy of a play-off spot.

Jamaica’s Norman Powell competing for Team World in the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, February 15, 2026 at the Intuit Dome in California, USA.

The Jamaican flag was displayed on Norman Powell’s jersey while competing for Team World in the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, February 15, 2026 at the Intuit Dome in California, USA. 

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