Powell emerged in a major way in his fifth NBA campaign, setting a host of personal bests during the 2019-20 season. He started a career-high 26 times among 52 appearances for the Raptors, with a much-increased offensive role leading to 16.0 points per game -- nearly double his previous career high. His averages of 28.4 minutes, 2.1 threes, 3.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals were all career highs as well. After shifting into the starting lineup for a stretch early in the season, Powell delivered 33 points -- then a career high -- on 12-of-18 shooting (including five threes) Nov. 29 against Orlando. He missed some time with a shoulder issue in late December and early January, but returned on fire, scoring 20-plus points in his first five games back despite starting just once in that stretch. A broken finger then cost him almost all of February, but Powell again returned with a vengeance, going on his hottest streak of the year immediately upon returning. Over a five-game stretch from Feb. 28 to Mar. 8, Powell averaged 28.0 points on 52.7 percent shooting along with 2.8 boards, 2.8 assists and 1.4 steals. That included setting a new career high with 37 points on 13-of-21 shooting in a Mar. 5 win over Golden State, then another 31 points three days later against Sacramento. For his efforts, Powell was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Mar. 9. Despite coming off the bench for the entirety of Toronto's 11-game playoff run, Powell still averaged 13.4 points while shooting a remarkable 42.3 percent from long range. In the decisive Game 4 of the first round against Brooklyn, he set a personal playoff best with 29 points.

A versatile reserve guard out of UCLA, Powell enjoyed his best statistical season in 2018-19. He posted career-high marks across the board (8.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.1 threes, 48.3 field-goal percentage) while playing just 18.8 minutes per game. A dislocated shoulder cost Powell 21 games from Nov. 7 to Dec. 16, but the 2015 second-round draft pick returned better than ever. He scored in double figures in 11 of his next 18 contests. Among those performances was a 23-point explosion against Indiana on Jan. 6. While his regular-season performance was solid, the highlight of Powell's season was Games 2-4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against Milwaukee. In those three contests -- all Toronto victories -- Powell's playing time jumped to 29 minutes per night. Embracing the larger role, Powell posted per-game averages of 17.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists during the three-game span. He was a key reason the Raptors were able to dispatch the favored Bucks in six games. Powell's under-the-radar contributions were a major factor in Toronto's journey to their first-ever NBA Championship.

Powell appeared in 70 games for the Toronto Raptors during the 2017-2018 campaign. He started 18 of those contests. In his third year with the franchise, Powell averaged 5.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, 0.8 three pointers and a career-high 1.3 assists per contest. He scored in double figures on 16 occasions during the regular season. Powell also shot a career-best 82.1-percent from the foul line. The 6-foot-4 wing collected a season-high 19 points on Nov. 5 during a home loss to Washington. Powell flashed his versatility on both ends of the floor, accumulating three steals on three separate occasions. He also swatted two shots in three distinct contests. Powell appeared in six playoff games for the Raptors. He averaged 1.3 points in 6.7 minutes per contest of playoff action. His Raptors ended the season by losing to the Cavaliers in the second round of the playoffs.

During the 2016-17 season, Powell was a regular rotation player for the Toronto Raptors. The second-round pick appeared in 76 games for the Raptors during his sophomore NBA season, starting in 18 of those contests. The defensive stalwart improved in most statistical categories, delivering per game averages of 8.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.7 made threes over 18 minutes per contest. His field-goal percentage also increased from 42.4 percent as a rookie to 44.9 percent during his second season. On Dec. 20, Powell delivered 21 points and a career-high five steals during a home win over the Nets. On Jan. 25, the 6-foot-4 wing posted 21 points, five rebounds and two three-pointers during a loss at Memphis. Just as he did last season, Powell scored a season-high on the last game of the regular season. On Apr. 12, Powell started and produced 25 points in a win over Cleveland. Powell's Raptors would defeat Milwaukee in the first round of the playoffs, but lose to Cleveland in the second round. Powell appeared in nine of Toronto's 10 playoff games. He averaged 11.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals over 25.2 minutes played during those nine postseason appearances.

Norman Powell was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round (46th overall) of the 2015 NBA Draft. He was then immediately traded to the Toronto Raptors. During his rookie season with Toronto, Powell appeared in 49 games with 24 starts. The 6-foot-4 win made his NBA debut on Nov. 1, playing two-plus minutes during a home win over the Bucks although he didn't record a single stat in that contest. In mid-December, Powell joined the D-League Raptors 905 in order to boost his minutes. Through eight D-League games in December, January and March, Powell posted per-game averages of 24.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.1 steals. By February, Powell became a regular with the parent club Raptors. Injuries to Terrence Ross and DeMarre Carroll led to Powell starting four straight games in February and 20 of Toronto's last 22 games. At the NBA level, Powell would end the season with averages of 5.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 0.6 steals and 0.7 made threes over 15 minutes per contest. The Raptors would go on to beat the Pacers and Heat in the first two rounds of the playoffs, but lose to Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals. Powell played in 18 of Toronto's 20 playoff games, averaging 3.8 points per postseason contest.