Norman Powell’s Family: Wife, Children, Parents and Siblings

Last Updated on October 7, 2026 by Candida Lucia

Norman Powell comes from a close-knit family whose sacrifices helped shape his journey from southeast San Diego to becoming an NBA champion and All-Star. Born on May 25, 1993, in San Diego, California, Powell is the son of Sharon Powell and Norman Powell Sr. He was raised primarily by his mother alongside his two older sisters, Joniece Benjamin and Margaret Smart.

Powell has repeatedly described his mother as the most influential person in his life, crediting her with teaching him discipline, perseverance and the importance of giving back to others. His father’s Jamaican heritage has also become increasingly important to Powell, who eventually embraced those roots by representing Jamaica internationally. Away from his parents and sisters, Powell keeps his romantic life particularly private. His current NBA biography confirms that he has a girlfriend, but her identity has not been publicly disclosed.

Who Is Norman Powell’s Wife?

Norman Powell’s wife is Bella Powell (often referred to as Bella Grace). Although the couple chooses to keep most of their private life out of the spotlight and away from sports tabloids, Bella frequently accompanies the NBA player to public events, such as Paris Fashion Week shows or movie premieres.

Does Norman Powell Have Children?

The couple further solidified their union recently: in early February 2026, they welcomed their first child. Norman Powell even stepped away from games temporarily for “personal reasons” to be present for the birth and support Bella during this new chapter of family life. Together, they have maintained a low-profile life while Powell continues his successful professional basketball career.

Who Are Norman Powell’s Parents?

Norman Powell’s parents are Sharon Powell and Norman Powell Sr.. Powell was born and raised in San Diego, although his childhood was shaped primarily by his mother.

UCLA and the NBA officially identify Sharon and Norman Sr. as his parents. Powell has explained that Sharon raised him and his two older sisters largely on her own, making her the dominant parental influence during his childhood.

Norman Sr., meanwhile, is of Jamaican background and was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Powell’s connection to his father’s homeland became increasingly important later in his life and eventually led him to represent Jamaica in international basketball.

Who Is Norman Powell’s Mother, Sharon Powell?

Sharon Powell is Norman Powell’s mother and the person he consistently identifies as the greatest influence on his life.

Powell has said that Sharon raised him and his older sisters, Joniece and Margaret, largely by herself. During a UCLA interview, he explained that his mother was always there for the three children and continuously pushed him to perform well both academically and athletically.

He summed up her importance simply by saying that he owed her everything.

Sharon worked professionally as a social worker and special-needs teacher. Her career reinforced many of the values she taught her children, particularly compassion and helping people who had fewer opportunities.

How Sharon Powell Raised Norman and His Sisters

Powell grew up in southeast San Diego, an area he has described as facing significant challenges involving gangs, drugs, underfunded schools and limited opportunities for young people.

Sharon worked to provide stability for Norman, Joniece and Margaret despite those circumstances.

Even while supporting her own children, Powell remembers his mother constantly helping other families. She would provide rides, communicate with teachers, ensure children arrived home safely and assist families who lacked basic resources.

Those experiences became an important influence on Norman’s approach to community work after reaching the NBA.

Rather than simply leaving his old neighborhood behind, Powell promised himself that professional success would allow him to create opportunities for young people facing many of the same challenges he had seen growing up.

Why Norman Powell Calls His Mother His Biggest Inspiration

Powell’s official NBA biography identifies Sharon as the person who made the biggest difference in his life.

He credits her with believing in him from the beginning, sacrificing for her children and demonstrating how to continue working despite difficult circumstances.

Her influence eventually became one of the foundations of his charitable organization, the Understand the Grind Foundation.

Sharon remains directly involved in the organization and serves in a leadership role alongside Norman and his sisters.

Who Is Norman Powell’s Father, Norman Powell Sr.?

Norman Powell Sr. is Norman Powell’s father. He is originally from Kingston, Jamaica, giving the NBA guard his Jamaican family roots.

Unlike Sharon, Norman Sr. was not a constant presence throughout his son’s upbringing. Powell has publicly explained that his mother primarily raised him and his sisters.

Recent reporting about Powell’s connection with Jamaica has also revealed that he grew up with unanswered questions about his father’s background and family history.

When his father did visit, Jamaican food and culture occasionally became part of Norman’s experiences, including dishes such as oxtail and jerk chicken.

However, Powell did not initially have the deep connection with Jamaica that he later developed as an adult.

Norman Powell’s Jamaican Heritage

Powell became increasingly interested in understanding his Jamaican heritage as he grew older.

His father’s roots in Kingston gave him eligibility to represent Jamaica internationally, but reconnecting with that heritage required Powell to learn more about the country and his family history.

He eventually secured the necessary documentation and committed to playing for the Jamaican national basketball team.

Powell made his senior international debut for Jamaica in 2025 during qualification for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The experience gave him an opportunity to build a stronger relationship with the country connected to his father’s side of the family.

Norman Powell’s Support for Jamaica

Powell’s connection to Jamaica has grown beyond basketball.

After Hurricane Melissa caused significant destruction on the island, Powell used his Understand the Grind Foundation to support relief efforts.

He donated $100,000 toward Jamaica and organized clothing and canned-goods drives. He also checked on the families of his Jamaican national-team teammates.

That charitable work reflects the same values Powell has frequently attributed to his mother while simultaneously strengthening his connection to his father’s homeland.

Who Are Norman Powell’s Siblings?

Norman Powell has two older sisters: Joniece Benjamin and Margaret Smart.

UCLA originally listed them as Joniece and Margaret Powell during Norman’s college career, while his current NBA biography identifies them by their later surnames, Joniece Benjamin and Margaret Smart.

Powell is the youngest of Sharon Powell’s three children and her only publicly documented son.

Both sisters remain closely involved in their brother’s life and charitable work.

Who Is Norman Powell’s Sister Joniece Benjamin?

Joniece Benjamin is one of Norman Powell’s two older sisters.

She helped form the close family unit in which Norman grew up in San Diego. Because of their age differences, Norman’s sisters were already older while he was developing into a promising basketball player.

Joniece continues to work closely with her brother through the Understand the Grind Foundation.

The foundation officially lists her as its Board Secretary, placing her in an important organizational role alongside Norman, Sharon and Margaret.

Her involvement demonstrates that Powell’s charitable organization is very much a family project rather than simply an NBA player’s individual venture.

Who Is Norman Powell’s Sister Margaret Smart?

Margaret Smart is Norman Powell’s other older sister.

Like Joniece, Margaret grew up with Norman under the care of their mother, Sharon.

Margaret is also directly involved with the Understand the Grind Foundation and serves as its Vice President.

The NBA has highlighted how Norman’s mother and both sisters help operate the foundation while he manages the demands of professional basketball.

The arrangement reflects the strong relationship among the siblings and their shared commitment to helping families in the San Diego community.

Norman Powell and His Sisters Help Run the Same Foundation

One of the most distinctive aspects of the Powell family is how closely they work together away from basketball.

Norman founded the Understand the Grind Foundation to improve opportunities for young people and families, particularly in underserved communities.

His mother and sisters form an important part of the organization’s leadership structure. Sharon serves as Chief Financial Officer, Margaret as Vice President and Joniece as Board Secretary.

The foundation focuses on four major areas: supporting strong women, educational opportunities through UTG Scholars, athletics and community outreach.

Its programs include basketball camps, scholarships, mentorship opportunities, holiday programs and assistance for families experiencing financial hardship.

How Norman Powell’s Mother Inspired Understand the Grind

Although Norman is the public face of the foundation, much of its philosophy comes directly from Sharon Powell.

Powell has recalled watching his mother support people throughout the community even when their own family did not have unlimited resources.

That example convinced him that success should involve helping other people rather than simply improving his own circumstances.

His foundation therefore attempts to provide young people with education, athletic opportunities and exposure to careers they might not otherwise consider possible.

Sharon remains deeply involved, including identifying families who need assistance and personally helping scholarship recipients prepare for college.

Norman Powell’s Uncle Raymond Edwards

Another important figure in Norman Powell’s family story is his uncle, Raymond Edwards.

Powell has identified Raymond alongside his mother as one of his major childhood role models.

His uncle also helped introduce him to basketball. That influence became especially meaningful because Norman was growing up without his father being consistently present.

Raymond reinforced lessons about perseverance, working toward goals and finding ways through difficult situations.

Those ideas eventually became central to Powell’s “Understand the Grind” mentality.

How Norman Powell’s Family Shaped His Basketball Career

Powell’s basketball career developed in an environment very different from the privileged circumstances often associated with elite young athletes.

Growing up in southeast San Diego exposed him to challenges that could easily have pulled him away from sports.

His mother, sisters and uncle instead provided the stability and motivation that kept him focused.

Powell eventually became a star at Lincoln High School, helping the program win the 2010 California Division II state championship.

He then committed to UCLA and spent four seasons with the Bruins.

By his senior season, Powell had developed into a First Team All-Pac-12 player while averaging 16.4 points per game.

Norman Powell’s Journey From UCLA to the NBA

Powell entered the 2015 NBA Draft after completing his four-year UCLA career.

The Milwaukee Bucks selected him with the 46th overall pick before trading his draft rights to the Toronto Raptors.

His second-round draft position meant that nothing about his NBA future was guaranteed.

Powell nevertheless developed into an important rotation player in Toronto and eventually became part of the Raptors team that won the 2019 NBA championship.

His career later included stops with the Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers and Miami Heat before he joined the Chicago Bulls.

Powell’s long rise from second-round pick to established NBA scorer closely matches the “Understand the Grind” philosophy that he developed from his childhood experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions About Norman Powell’s Family

Who are Norman Powell’s parents?

Norman Powell’s parents are Sharon Powell and Norman Powell Sr. His mother primarily raised Norman and his two older sisters in San Diego.

Who is Norman Powell’s mother?

Norman Powell’s mother is Sharon Powell. She worked as a social worker and special-needs teacher and is the person Powell consistently identifies as the biggest influence on his life.

Who is Norman Powell’s father?

Norman Powell’s father is Norman Powell Sr., who is from Kingston, Jamaica. His Jamaican heritage gave Norman the connection that eventually led him to represent Jamaica internationally.

Was Norman Powell raised by his mother?

Yes. Powell has publicly said that Sharon raised him and his sisters largely on her own. He has repeatedly credited her sacrifices with helping him succeed academically and in basketball.

How many siblings does Norman Powell have?

Norman Powell has two siblings, both older sisters. They are Joniece Benjamin and Margaret Smart.

Who is Norman Powell’s sister Joniece Benjamin?

Joniece Benjamin is one of Norman Powell’s older sisters. She works with the family’s Understand the Grind Foundation and serves as its Board Secretary.

Who is Norman Powell’s sister Margaret Smart?

Margaret Smart is Norman Powell’s other older sister. She serves as Vice President of the Understand the Grind Foundation.

Who is Norman Powell’s wife?

Norman Powell’s wife is Bella Powell .

Does Norman Powell have children?

The couple further solidified their union recently: in early February 2026, they welcomed their first child.

Is Norman Powell Jamaican?

Powell was born in San Diego, California, but has Jamaican heritage through his father, Norman Powell Sr., who is from Kingston. Powell later embraced that heritage and began representing Jamaica internationally.