In this informal interview, Norman Powell recounts his long‑standing relationship with Kawhi Leonard, sharing personal anecdotes that reveal Kawhi’s quiet personality, his quirky habits (like working out sock‑less), and his trademark one‑liners about ball movement. Powell explains how Kawhi’s eventual return will relieve pressure on teammates, open up spacing, and elevate the Raptors’ two‑way play. The conversation then shifts to the Raptors’ new arena, highlighting the dedicated fan section, the Halo Board, upgraded locker rooms, and the overall rebrand away from the former Sterling identity. Draymond Green and Powell also discuss bench seat ergonomics, noting how low chairs can affect players’ hips and potentially contribute to injuries, and they suggest the NBA consider standardizing bench design. Throughout, the tone remains conversational and humorous, with enthusiasm for the team’s evolution and critical observations about arena logistics.
Chapters
Talk about also like, um, your relationship with Kawhi. We know Kawhi is out, you know. Um, you know, definitely when he comes back, I think y'all gonna be one of the most dangerous teams in the league. You know, you've played, you know, on the same team, won a championship. Relax. Hey man, he get mad every time I say that. Relax, man.
Man, we can't get one, bro? We can't get one?
Relax, bro. It's cool.
Relax, man.
You had to get one, dog.
My bad. You know what I mean?
My bad. I'm glad that it still bothers him, man.
It will never not bother me, bro. It will never not bother me. Ah.
But talk about, talk about y'all evolution is, you know, teammates, y'all relationship with teammates in Toronto and now, you know, how that's evolved. And then when his return come, you know, just how that's gonna help, you know, kind of your game and the way you playing, how that takes pressure off of, you know, him coming back.
Kawhi's been great, man. I mean, I've known Kawhi since I was in high school, you know. I was in San Diego, I was at Lincoln, he was at San Diego State. San Diego State was the first school to offer me a full-ride scholarship. I took my official visit there, being from San Diego, respecting Coach Fisher, Jeremy, you know, Kawhi's right-hand man. He hosted me actually on my visit to San Diego State. So, you know, knowing Kawhi, being around Kawhi for a while, he's always supported me and showed me love. Even when he was in San Antonio playing, you know, he pulled me to the side, like, whatever I needed, you know, I'll make sure I hit him up, you know, back down to San Diego, get workouts in and things like that. But just being able to show the floor to him, talk to him, you know, pick his brain and his approach, because, you know, everybody thinks he's just like this, like, I would statue, robot that has no feelings, no emotions and things like that, man. Like I always try to tell people, man, Kawhi is literally like one of us. You know what I mean? Like he's just quiet in the media and everything like that. But behind closed doors in the locker room, like he's telling jokes, he's talking like he's normal. You know what I mean? But just his approach to the game.
Yeah.
And His diligence, you know, and his focus is what I've appreciated as a teammate. You know, I've learned so much from just, no matter what's going on, you know, just the staying even, you know what I'm saying? He's never too high, never too low. He always has this like demeanor of like, eff it. You know what I'm saying? Like, I miss a shot, like, I'm gonna miss another one. You know what I'm saying? I'm still gonna approach these. I'm still gonna go at it the same way. Yeah. And so that's kind of like rubbed off on me, like where it's like no matter what's going on, like I know who I am, like I know what player I am, like nothing's going to change that. So that's what I've learned most about Kawhi. But I've known him for a while. So like, like being teammates or not, like we've always been cool. I see Charles says, what's the funniest thing you've seen? What's the funniest thing I've seen? Him working out with no socks is crazy. I think that's probably the funniest thing. He on the court with full setup and no socks is probably the funniest thing I've seen. Um, what?
Yeah, sick. What? Yes, that's nasty.
I don't know if I'm gonna get in trouble saying that, man.
No, I was, I was gonna say like, what is a Kawhi-ism? Like, I heard a Kawhi-ism was the coach was saying like All right, you know, dude in the game, he can't shoot. He said, well, why is he—
Oh my gosh, man. Oh my gosh. Why is he—
Why is he—
All right, so we in Toronto, right? We just got blown out by Milwaukee and we come in to film the next day and Nick Nurse is talking about, you know, roles and how our offense can get better. You know, we just got blown out and you know, and so he's telling everybody what they should do and he gets to Kawhi and he's like, He's talking about trying to move the ball, you know what I mean? And so he's like, you know, like even Kawhi, you come down, man, you know what I'm saying? Just moving the ball for the hell of it. And Kawhi's like, you know, Kawhi got the deep voice, he's like, yeah, I don't think I should move the ball for the hell of it. I was like, man. And like, like, like, he's like, like, like, man, my job is to score the ball. And like, you know, you know, as a head coach, you know, you usually got something to say back and you don't know what to say. 'Cause like nobody was expecting it. And he's just like, nah. And it's monotone as hell. Like, like, nah, I ain't gonna move the ball for the hell of it. And everybody just start busting up laughing in the, oh my gosh, in the locker room. I mean, in the theater room, man, watching that film, it was hilarious. But he got little one-liners all the time. He got one-liners all the time that people don't know. And he's hilarious. But him coming back, man, is gonna be huge for us. Yeah. I mean, just, just the attention to detail that teams have to, have to focus on, you know, it's gonna take the pressure off James being picked up, you know, full court. It's gonna take the pressure off me getting double teamed and face guard and boxed and won when you playing against certain teams, you know, having to guard Kawhi, you know, he, he draws double teams. Like you can't guard him one-on-one for a full course of the game. So now I'm getting more catch and shoot threes and more stuff out the floor of the offense from his double teams. Um, and stuff like that. I think it's just, uh, I mean, he's a generational talent when he's on the floor, man, and he's healthy. I mean, he, he's top 5 in the league, um, with his production and his play. And he's just gonna elevate the team. I mean, he's a two-way, two-way threat, um, offensively, defensively, you know, and it's gonna help other guys get into their more natural roles, um, to help our bench as well. You know, some guys playing in the bench, um, starting right now with, with the lineups and, you know, when he's back,— is gonna have a full team to where we can, you know, do a lot of different things defensively and offensively.
No, for sure. New season, new arena. How does it feel to have your own arena and not be a visitor at home?
Man, it feel great, dog. I can't even lie to you, man. Just having like, you know, like having your own setup, having your own locker room, you know, being comfortable, having your own routine, not having, oh, we got to get out early, we got to move this, we got a game at 12:30, we got to go this way to exit. Like, you know, we know where everything's at, you know? So it's more relaxed. It's easy.
It is.
And you got your own fans, you know what I mean? Like, we have a— the wall is a dedicated section for just us. So even when y'all travel down there and y'all like to bring all your fans and everything down to LA, you know, we got our section still rocking and competing, you know what I mean? But it's great, man, to have your own identity. The rebrand is amazing. Kind of gets away from the whole Sterling thing and all that, you know, having our own identity. You know, Bomber's been great providing everything that the team needs as players and as an organization. And the arena is top-notch. I mean, I haven't been over to the visitor side, but I'm sure y'all ain't complaining about the locker room because, you know, some of these arenas and visiting locker rooms, you be in a box, you know what I mean? But yeah, it's amazing. I mean, the Halo Board is probably my favorite thing in that arena.
Yeah, it's incredible. I had walked all the way up to the top of the wall when we were, when we played y'all there and just kind of got that vantage point of the top of the Halo Board and then kind of come down a little bit and see inside. It was dope to see. Nah, but we appreciate you, Steve. I've heard, you know, there's a hot tub and cold tub and stuff in the Warriors. Guest locker room and Bomber got that over there. It's great. So we appreciate you, brother. The weight room, training room's great. Another thing, the seats. The seats are high. Like, you know, they be— Oh man.
You go to these different— They're massive.
No, I'm talking about, well, number one.
On the bench.
The bench seats are great. But even in the locker room, you know, you go to these arenas, man, they be having these chairs that's super low and it fuck your hips up. And so I, you know, with, you know, they, the, and Intuit, they got the ones you can let up. They like, and they got a seat warmer on 'em and stuff. But I think the NBA should have a rule about the bench in NBA arenas, man. You like, again, you want the product on the floor. You want guys to be healthy. A part of that is the little things like when you're sitting down, your hips being level. —and a lot of them benches put you— yeah, yeah, hips in the wrong position.
They just got regular folding chairs.
All that stuff plays a part in injury. Absolutely. So the NBA, you like, you go to Dallas, they got some old-ass chairs, man.
Hey, bro, y'all still sitting in concert seats. You know what I mean? Y'all sitting in the same seats we sitting in. Y'all ain't got no upgrade, no, y'all ain't got no gamer chairs. Y'all should be on—
None of that.
You know how like in some road games, you gotta bring like, the team brings like those,— the pads and stuff so you can like—
Man, that shit look nasty. Y'all sitting over there with the cushions. Say no kid, that don't even look right, man. We gonna have to upgrade them seats, man. Let's find a seat partner or something like that. Come on, man. Hey Dray, hey, we putting the APB out. Anybody who make Dope seats, we need bench seats, we need the bitch, right? Shit, come on, man, shit.
