Norman Powell on calling Paul George’s Clippers exit “addition by subtraction” | Draymond & Baron

Earlier this year, you had an interview where you said, "It's addition by subtraction." Did you think it would become this big of a deal that you say that, you play how you play, Philly look how they look, like, and everybody blowing that up? Like, what did you think of that when you said that? Did you know? Was headed here?

Nah, I didn't, I didn't think it was gonna be as blown up as it was, you know what I'm saying? Like, I honestly was just looking like as, as just motivation, you know what I'm saying? I'm gonna get, I'm gonna finally get the opportunity, you know? Like, I always felt like I was the guy that like the teams relied on, you know what I'm saying? As that X factor to help, you know, get us wins or push us over the top, you know? But I always had the feeling that, you know, I could be in that position, you know? And when I, you know, the, the moves that were made, and that opening was there, it was just like addition by subtraction because I can fill that void, you know what I'm saying? I can be the one to step in and have that same production or impact, you know? And it was just like a mentality approach to it. It wasn't like a sto' shot at PG and do all that, you know? It was just like, I'm here now, you know what I'm saying? I get an opportunity, you know, to be one of the guys that I've always wanted to be. Yeah. But then, you know, Media takes it in and runs with it. You know, you got people talking about it and then Philly starts the way they start. Got people mad at PG for leaving and then like it just turns into this like Norm versus PG. Norm's playing better than PG right now. The Clippers are better than the, the Sixers are like, it just turned into this whole crazy thing and it was just like, nah, like we got like, not only myself, but we got other guys who were scratching and clawing as well. We had 4 Hall of Famers on our team. You know what I mean? For, for 2 seasons and we had to figure out how to, how to make it work. And you know, you gotta take a lesser role, you know, and play to help the team win. But now that that's not here anymore, like you got the addition of these other guys and the addition of me to be able to step into a larger role.

Nah, I like it, man, because you know, I've been, I was calling Baller Vision for a couple, I think 2 seasons, and just to watch your evolution just coming off the bench, you know, candidate for Sixth Man of the Year, you know, coming in and being focal in the offense, right? Being a focal point in the offense over the last 2 years and now becoming, you know, that guy. I remember, you know, I would say my 3rd year when I kind of stepped into the role like, "Hey, it's up for grabs. There's 5, 6, 7 more points for me. There's more responsibility." You know, talk about this for you, you know what I mean? This being your year, you know, to be able to show what you can do? And not that it was something that, you know, you've been waiting for this moment. You know, you can pretty much say 9 years of your career.

You know what I mean?

Yeah, man.

Yeah. I think, you know, it's just being ready, staying prepared, and continuing to have faith and belief, you know, like in yourself throughout this grind. You know, like I said, like I've always been the guy that teams like value in terms of like a winning player, you know, that can come in and help, a guy that you can plug and play.— in situations, you know, and I've had sparks and moments and stints in my 10-year career where, like, guys get hurt and now I'm playing for 15 straight games, starting, averaging 20-plus, shooting efficiency good, everything. But then guys come back and I'm at the end of the bench and I got to fill that role again. Just being up and down with that. But like I said, I always believed that I could do this, you know, and I always wanted the opportunity, like talking to AJ, my trainer.

Mm-hmm.

That y'all know, you know, just like, man, like we used to have conversations in the summer, like, I really wanna see what it's like when, when I got the, the, the reins, you know what I mean? Like, like, cause I feel that I can, I can produce. I can, I can do this. Like I've seen it up close. I've had it in stints and spurts. I've learned, I've watched the guys in front of me, DeMar, Kyle, Kawhi operate, Dame, CJ. Like I've seen how these franchise players and, and organizations that hold these guys to a high standard operate and approach the game. And I have the same mentality, I have the same approach, I have the same work ethic, if not more in some cases. Like, I want to see what it looks like. But it was just about staying ready and staying prepared and believing in myself through all the ups and downs and just waiting, you know, and having talks with El and Mark when they traded for me, you know, about my value. And You know, oh, like, I just came from starting from Portland. I don't really wanna come off the bench again. Like, I'm trying to keep elevating my career, you know what I'm saying? To hopefully become one of those guys. Um, and you know, and they said it like, we see you as a starter, you know, but like in terms of how our team is configured right now, like we think it's the best for you to come off the bench, you know, and be that spark plug and help us, um, in that way. Cuz we need firepower off the bench. And me being, I wanna win at the end of the day, no matter what. What it is. Like, I want to win. I want to win championships. I want to win games. I want to be known as a winning player. So I'm going to do whatever it takes for the team to win, whether that's me taking a lesser role, me stepping up into a bigger role. I'm all about winning. And that's what it is. And with this opportunity here, I told L in the summer, like, I'm ready for the ups and downs. Like, you can lean on me. You know what I'm saying? I'm going to be ready for it. I'm not going to shy away from everything. Like, it's going to be a learning experience because this is my first time, you know, in the league actually having this leadership role for a full season, you know, and being looked upon. So it's not gonna be pretty every single game, every single night. But like, you know, you got somebody that you can lean on that's gonna continue to put the work in and go out there and try to help this team win.

I know, you know, this year you've been having a kick-ass year, you know, All-Star year. I want you to tell everybody, you know, why you believe you're All-Star this year.

Dang, man, you know, BD, I don't like talking about myself, man.

I know you don't like to. I mean, I could do it for you, but you know, just talk about, you know, the role you stepped into, you know, where people didn't think, you know, let's say with PG leaving, right? And, you know, Russ not being there as well. And then, you know, the Clippers not being, you know, thought of as a contender. You know, James Harden saying, "I am the system." You know what I mean? Like, you know, talk through all that and then how you've emerged, you know, as their counterpart. You know, I think, you know, I wanna hear from you, but also the fans wanna hear from you, you know, just about your get down. You know what I mean? Yeah.

And your approach this year and, you know, Yeah, I mean, I think for me, you know, I think I'm an all-star just like you said, like where the team and where they saw us at, you know, like we was, I think, second to last in the West. Like they had no belief that we were gonna be a good team because we lost PG, we lost Russ, and then the whole Kawhi, you know, being out and being hurt. And then the narrative around James, you know, he's not the same player that he was. He's not gonna be able to carry a team. That, you know, the, the, his best basketball days, you know, are behind him, you know, and, uh, for me and him to, you know, come together, you know, and, and be the two guys that, um, is leading this team, you know what I'm saying? Uh, on a nightly basis and making sure that we're, we're competitive. Um, you know, that, that's a testament to, to who we are as, as a players. Um, and then just, uh, my production as well, you know, um, from being able to being a role of 6th man behind 4 Hall of Fame guys, you know, still putting up production and points. Um, last year to stepping in and increasing my averages across the board, being super efficient, um, from the field, from the 3-point line, um, and, and still being competitive. Uh, like DG said at the beginning, like, if we can stay in that top 5, uh, in the standings, you know, I, I have a good chance. But just, uh, me emerging as a guy that, you know, people didn't think would be able to do this in year 10, you know, that like I was just fit in this certain role.

Yeah.

Um, I think that's the, the strongest candidate that, uh, my strongest pitch that I have, you know, I'm, I'm producing every single night, you know, I'm doing my thing. Um, I'm holding it down against the top dogs, the top teams. Um, and, uh, my mentality and approach has always been the same, you know, my work ethic. Hasn't changed. I think the biggest thing that I've done going into this season, knowing that I'm gonna have a bigger role and more pressure and stuff on me from myself, not much external, because, like, I don't really care what media and stuff talking about because they don't really know, but just with myself was just a mental approach. You know, just like, what is my gonna be— what is gonna be my daily approach to the game? You know, good days, bad days. Days and games, like, am I going to be somebody that rides the wave? Am I going to be even keel? You know what I'm saying? And going at it the same way. So I put a lot of emphasis on just like the mental part of the game, making sure that my mind is ready night in and night out because I know my body can do it. You know, I stress my body out all summer long, 3 workouts a day, 5 days a week. You know, going at it 3 weeks on, 1 week off, traveling, still, still training, still getting it in. So I know my body's up for the grind, but where's my mental gonna be? You know, when, you know, you're— I go one night, you know, I got 30, 37, and then the next night I got 22 or 15 and I'm shooting 5 for 19, you know, like, I'm like, oh man, like, the team needed me tonight, man. Like, I can't do this. Or it's gonna be like, you know, this happens. Like, how do I get better? How do I improve? How do I— how do I still get the best from the team? So that's the biggest thing that I changed going into this season is just making sure that I'm mentally strong. No matter what, no matter what it is, whether I'm playing great for a stretch of games or, you know, I have a few games where, you know, the ball's not going into the basket. How can I still be that leader? How can I still be impactful, um, and keep this team, you know, as, as one of the top teams in the conference? Um, and I think I've been able to do that, um, so far, even with being out with injuries and things like that, still being in guys' ears, still bringing that competitive fire and, and grit to the game. Uh, but when I'm on the floor, like, like, We're hanging in there, you know what I'm saying? We're gonna figure it out. We're gonna be competitive every single night. I think that's what makes me an All-Star this year.