3. Norman Powell
Norman Powell is another name worth mentioning when we talk about fan favorites. Powell played all four years of his career with the Raptors and he is seen as the spark plug by many fans.
He provides energy on the court by way of emphatic dunks and gritty plays that aren’t always on the highlight tape. With his exceptional athleticism, Powell gives the fans the entertainment aspect of basketball. His exceptional leaping ability and big-time jams have the potential to electrify ScotiaBank Arena when the ball gets in his hands on a fastbreak opportunity.
Sometimes when a game needs an injection of emotion and feeling, we Raptors fans can rely on Norman to give us some life. It’s those kinds of things that have fans appreciate a player. Powell lets his actions do the talking and that is perfectly fine. His actions speak volumes to fans.
Powell gave us some comedic content when the Raptors were celebrating their championship with the city of Toronto. Powell (who clearly had some drinks) gave a very candid and hilariously honest interview with a reporter. He actually ended up dousing him in champagne in the process!
It was a funny moment and shows us a more playful side of Powell. Fans still appreciate seeing that side of him, showing that even NBA players can get a little carried away after celebrating a huge achievement.
Powell has yet to hit his full potential as an NBA player, but he has shown flashes of what he is capable of. It’s those glimpses of greatness that have Toronto fans sticking with him. This is one of the situations where the fan wants to see the player succeed perhaps just as much as the player does.
Through the ups and downs and the hot and cold streaks, us fans never lost faith in Powell. We understand that one game can change the momentum for a player and we have seen this specifically from Powell. The confidence we show in Norman might not always lead to efficiency, but it allows him to play with more confidence and emotion.
One could say the fans and Powell have a give and take relationship in the most positive way. We give him confidence, support, and tough love. In return, Powell gives us an emotional spark plug, unmatched energy, and heart. Powell feeds off what we the fans give him and we feed off what he gives back.
Norman is going into his fifth year, but it feels like he has been with the Raptors forever. Norman’s energy is enough for us to get through those dog days of January. If his playing potential matches his energy output, we could finally see him take the next step.