Norman Powell scores 15 in Bulls debut, a 135-92 loss to Toronto
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The gist
Bulls guard Norman Powell scored 15 points in his Chicago debut, a 135-92 loss at Toronto.
The 33-year-old veteran joins a rebuilding roster focused on developing young players.
Background
Norman Powell is a 33-year-old, 11-year NBA veteran guard and one-time All-Star who signed a two-year, $45 million deal with the Chicago Bulls in the 2026 offseason. He made his first All-Star appearance last season with the Miami Heat, averaging 21.7 points and shooting 38.0 percent from 3-point range. The Bulls are described as focused on developing young players like Matas Buzelis and rookie lottery pick Caleb Wilson, and Powell's debut came against Toronto, where he previously won the 2019 championship.
How it unfolded
- Feb 1, 2026Powell made his first All-Star appearance as a pro with the Miami Heat at age 32.
- 2026 offseasonPowell agreed to a two-year, $45 million deal with the Chicago Bulls.
- Oct 16, 2026Powell played in a preseason game against the Timberwolves at the United Center.
- Oct 21, 2026In his Bulls regular-season debut, Powell had 15 points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal over 22 minutes in a 135-92 loss to Toronto. The Bulls committed 27 turnovers, their most in a single game since February 23, 2020.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- RotoWire Staff said Powell's offensive output may be limited while playing alongside the young core of Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis and rookie Caleb Wilson.
- Analysts
- NBC Sports' Raphielle Johnson said Powell's first official appearance as a Bull did not go as planned and that this season in Chicago is about developing young players.
- Caution
- Andrew Hanlon of Pippen Ain't Easy wrote that Powell's two-year, $45 million contract is structured so the 33-year-old can be moved as soon as this year's trade deadline, presumably for draft capital.
- Support
- Elias Schuster of SI said Powell was brought to Chicago to be a stabilizing force offensively, calling him a capable ball-handler with good basketball IQ.
- Public
- Powell said of rebuilding team culture, "I'm embracing it."
Still unverified
Pippen Ain't Easy speculated that the Bulls could trade Powell at the deadline, possibly in a deal involving Karl-Anthony Towns, but presented this as presumption rather than a reported deal.