‘Fully invested’

JAMAICA’s basketball programme has grown significantly over the past two years and NBA Champion and All-Star Norman Powell believes adding more players from the league could further strengthen its financial position.

Miami Heat guard Powell is set to make his return to the national team this summer for Jamaica’s final group games in the first round of FIBA World Cup Qualifying against Bahamas and Canada in July. Jamaica currently sit second in the group on six points and can secure a spot in the final round with victory in either match.

The 32-year-old missed the first four games from November to March as he unavailable due to NBA commitments, with the Heat not obligated to release players for international duty.

Powell was a key factor in Jamaica reaching this stage after helping them advance in the Americas Pre-Qualifiers last August in Mexico with wins over Barbados and Costa Rica, averaging 23 points.

He had a breakout year during the regular season of the NBA, averaging nearly 22 points a game which saw him earn his first ever All-Star appearance where he represented Jamaica for Team World during the All-Star Game in February.

However, the Heat was unable to make a play-off run, losing to the Charlotte Hornets in the play-in tournament last month. Powell’s future with the Miami franchise is also uncertain as he enters free agency in July.

However, Powell says his NBA situation won’t affect his commitment to Jamaica’s programme as he wants to see the programme continue to progress.

“I was the only NBA guy playing last year and trying to help them qualify for the first time so I’m fully invested in the Jamaica national team. Everything I do for the national team is to help lay a solid foundation for the players coming up after me,” he said.

“I think what we were able to accomplish last summer really put Jamaica on the map and you start seeing all the guys with some type of heritage talking about it throughout the season about wanting to take part and be a part of it so hopefully we can figure out how we can make that happen and we’ll see Jamaica start to really climb the ranks and guys will want to be a part of it and continue to help grow basketball in Jamaica.”

The Thompson twins, Amen of Houston Rockets and Ausar of Detroit Pistons, are currently in the process of receiving their Jamaican passport and told the Jamaica Observer last May they were open to representing Jamaica.

The Observer also reported last June that several NBA stars have expressed an interest in joining the national team including Toronto Raptors All-Star Scottie Barnes, Detroit Pistons centre Isaiah Stewart and San Antonio Spurs Guard Devin Vassell.

Powell, who won the NBA title with the Raptors in 2019, believes the addition of more high-level players will not just improve the team’s quality but the programme’s financial status.

“I just think the more players that are involved, the more people are going to want to rally behind it because we bring different groups from all over. We have a lot of different support staff from where we grew up, how we play, different fans, different sponsorships, different partnerships that we bring because as players, we’re our own brand, you know, and we’re doing different things off the floor,” he said. “And when you do deals with these brands and make these partnerships, you talk about what you do off the court, you know, and wanting them to be able to take part, whether that’s donating items or donating money to help the programme.”

“For me personally, I always try to partner with people that are going to be a part of what I do off the court and then help boost and grow in that aspect. So I think the more guys in the NBA that join, that can have that same mindset, I think it’ll help expedite the process to bring up and fund the national team.”

With Jamaica making its debut in FIBA World Cup Qualifying, the Jamaica Basketball Association (JABA) has had to execute many firsts including home games at the National Indoor Sports Centre earlier this year. They also recently signed a partnership with German apparel giants Adidas.

Powell says he’s willing to help with the logistics of the programme, given JABA’s relative inexperience.

“[For me] just individually committing, donating, helping and trying to make those trips and helping them plan easier from my experience on how it goes and what we do in the NBA so they can have an idea of how to set up and what to prepare for, what’s to be expected with the travel and the hotels, the transportation and things like that because they’re not really knowing and learning and asking me a bunch of these different questions so it’s definitely cool to be a part of that.”

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

Norman Powell (left) of Miami Heat drives to the basket against Brandon Miller of Charlotte Hornets during the second half of the NBA game at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on April 14, 2026. (Photo: AFP)

Norman Powell (right) of Jamaica takes on Carl Thorpe of Barbados during a 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification (Americas) group game in Mexico on August 8, 2025. (Photo: FIBA)