It’s been a long journey for Dwight Powell to get back to some sense of normalcy on the basketball court.
Powell ruptured his right Achilles tendon Jan. 21, 2020, against the Los Angeles Clippers. Getting his sea legs back under him after surgery and the rehabilitation process has been a difficult challenge for the Dallas Mavericks’ 6-10 center.
“Difficult, I guess, as opposed to not having to go through it,” Powell said after Tuesday’s practice. “So it seems kind of it is what it is. You just got to take every day, every opportunity to get healthier, better, stronger, improve your skill set.
“There was a long period of time, obviously, where I couldn’t be on the court in a full capacity, but still tried to do things to improve my game and improve my body and prepare my mind for those opportunities coming at each next phase. I guess the most difficult part was staying mentally locked in, remaining engaged with the team trying to do whatever it is I could to contribute in some way – whether that’s on or off the court — and then finding ways to keep myself motivated to get better. Not just in rehab, but to continue to work as hard as I had worked before I got hurt, just in a different capacity.”
All of that work has obviously paid off, since training camp was barely underway before coach Jason Kidd announced that Powell will be his starting center when the Mavs’ season tips off on Oct. 21.
“I just love the way he competes, but this wasn’t just my decision,” Kidd said. “This was a group decision.
“I brought it to the board, and the board brought up Dwight and we all agreed that it would be Dwight. I can’t take credit for that.”
Last year Powell played in 58 games – he started 19 – and averaged 5.9 points and four rebounds in 16.6 minutes per contest. He also shot a sizzling 61.9 percent from the field while mostly getting his game together during the last half of the season.
“I love the game of basketball, first and foremost,” Powell said. “I’ve been very fortunate to be on this team – there’s nobody on the team I don’t like playing with.
“We already do have pretty good chemistry with a lot of our guys. We have a bunch of guys here that were not here last season (but arrived) before camp. So we got to play pickup (games), we got to spend time with each other, work out with one another and have built some of that rapport already.”
Some of that rapport many fans will get to see themselves for the first time on Wednesday night at 7:30 when the Mavs play their preseason opener at American Airlines Centers against the Utah Jazz.
Powell will be on the frontline this season alongside Kristaps Porzingis, who has looked exceptional during training camp and is highly inspired by the fact that this is the first time since 2017-18 that he’ll enter a season without coming off an injury or a rehab situation. Porzingis will start at the power forward spot, but will also float over and play some at the center position.
“I think KP is going to thrive in whatever position he’s in this season,” Powell said. “I’m sure about that. The way he’s prepared this offseason, the way he’s already been practicing so far in camp, I think whether he’s a 4 or 5 or 3 or 6, whatever it is, he’s going to find a way to be extremely lethal for us.
“That’s the mindset he’s had, and he’s prepared us as teammates for that. So we’re super excited for the games to come.”
Porzingis’ game in the pick-and-roll and as a deft 3-point shooter also has its advantages, particularly since he’s 7-3. Additionally, that opens up spots on the floor for Powell to operate.
“KP is an extremely talented player,” Powell said. “I think everybody knows that. His ability to shoot at that size is extremely unique. Not only because of what he can do at his size on the defensive end and finishing inside, but just his ability to get shots off.
“So that creates such a massive (hole) on the outside that being able to have that rolling rim presence is going to benefit both of us. That’s something that we’ve spoken about and just working on it at practice is that tandem of one-in, one-out trying to create opportunities for each other, and also just the random screens for him.”
Kidd said he won’t dress Dorian Finney-Smith, Frank Ntilikina and Powell for the game against the Jazz. But that hasn’t stopped Powell from being anxious about getting on the court with Porzingis.
“KP is moving so much better, his body is in amazing shape, so he’s able to get to those spots quicker and react faster,” Powell said. “And he just draws so much attention that it just creates opportunities for everybody else.”
Speaking of opportunities, the 30-year old Powell noted there have been many noticeable ones in training camp this year under Kidd, who is in his first season coaching the Mavs.
“I think one of the biggest things so far in camp that I’ve really enjoyed is the energy,” Powell said. “We kind of start fast and we kind of keep a high pace throughout the whole practice, which I think is extremely important.
“Like we keep saying, for a team that’s trying to continue to mesh and build chemistry, to continually compete from the jump, I think, is super important.”
It’s also super important, Powell said, for the Mavs to learn the plays in Kidd’s playbook as quick as possible.
“We have obviously schemes and principles that we’re implementing, and there’s a lot of teaching that’s still going on,” Powell said. “But we’re doing it through competing, which I think helps not only ingrain those things in our minds, but also helps us build that chemistry offensively and defensively. So the energy has been super high and guys have been enjoying it.
“I can get excited for various things with every unit that I’m in because everybody brings something different to the table and we’re kind of all meshed together slightly differently, and that’s exciting for me because we’re not a one-trick pony team. We have a bunch of options, we have a bunch of skilled guys, a bunch of extremely talented guys. I’m really excited for what we’re going to do.”
Kidd, meanwhile, likes what the athletic Powell can do for the Mavs.
“What Dwight brings to that starting group is his energy, his effort, the little things,” he said. “We need someone like that on the floor for 48 minutes that’s not just about themselves.
“So I think he checks those boxes for that group when he starts.”
Born in Toronto, Powell competed this summer with the Canadian National Team in one of four FIBA Olympic Qualifying tournaments, and averaged 10 points and 6.3 rebounds in 23.7 minutes per game. That helped prepare him for this season.
“I think any opportunity that I have to play for the national team is an honor and it’s something that I look forward to whenever the chance comes around,” Powell said. “It’s a chance to compete at a high level with high stakes in the offseason, which I think is really good for the mindset.
“Obviously you need to take time at the end of the season to recover, especially for me coming off of an Achilles injury, so that time was taken. But once the training begins again, it’s nice to have a competitive timeline for your summer, not just for the season. So to have that period of time where you’re competing at an extremely high level, your training could be catered more intensely for that period.”
Powell acknowledged that the time with the Canadian National Team served a huge purpose in his life.
“I think for me personally, I get a lot out of that,” he said. “To go up against a national team where your country’s pride is on the line it’s a different level of competitiveness. So it really helps you kind of sharpen your skills and compete at the highest level. It’s a great experience every time I have the opportunity and it definitely helps in my development every chance I get.”
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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