Joshua Dominique Powell (born January 25, 1983) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. Powell won two NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010, and has also spent time with the Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets. In 2013, Powell was a member of the Olympiacos side that won the EuroLeague championship. He has also played in Russia, Italy, Argentina, Puerto Rico, China, the Philippines, Australia and Venezuela.
Powell spent two years at North Carolina State, where in his freshman campaign, he averaged 7.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game en route to earning a spot on the ACC All-Rookie squad. He went on to average 12.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in 31 games his sophomore season, and was named the team's most improved player as the recipient of the Tom Gugliotta Award. He ranked seventh in the ACC in blocks (1.3), 20th in scoring and 18th in rebounding. He was named to the All-ACC Tournament first team after putting up 20.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in three contests, including a career-best 26-point effort in the championship game against Duke.
After going undrafted in the 2003 NBA draft, Powell spent the preseason with the Dallas Mavericks, before moving to Russia for his first professional season. He managed just two games for Lokomotiv-Rostov before joining Italian team Scafati Basket for the rest of the 2003–04 season. Following his stint in Italy, he returned to the United States and played for the Southern Crescent Lightning, helping them win the 2004 WBA championship. He also spent the 2004–05 season in Italy with JuveCaserta Basket before re-joining the Southern Crescent Lightning in 2005.
Powell re-signed with the Dallas Mavericks in August 2005, but managed just 16 games over the first half of the 2005–06 season. On February 27, 2006, he was assigned to the Fort Worth Flyers of the NBA Development League. He was recalled by the Mavericks on March 4, and went on to play in 21 games throughout March and April. On April 4, 2006, he scored a season-high 12 points in a 127–101 win over the Sacramento Kings. He finished the regular season with an 11-point, nine-rebound effort against the Los Angeles Clippers on April 19. The Mavericks reached the NBA Finals in 2006, where they were defeated 4–2 by the Miami Heat. Powell appeared in six games over the Mavericks' playoff run.
Indiana Pacers and Golden State Warriors
In July 2006, Powell was traded, along with Darrell Armstrong and Rawle Marshall, to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Anthony Johnson. He appeared in just seven games for the Pacers in 2006–07 before being traded to the Golden State Warriors in an eight-player deal on January 17, 2007. On January 27, 2007, in just his second game for the Warriors, Powell scored a then career-high 13 points in a 131–105 win over the Charlotte Bobcats. He played in 30 regular season games for the Warriors, as well as making four playoff appearances.
On August 14, 2007, Powell signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. On April 3, 2008, he recorded a career-high 13 rebounds in a 110–98 loss to the Sacramento Kings. Three days later, he scored a career-high 22 points in a 105–79 loss to the Houston Rockets. On July 30, 2008, he was waived by the Clippers.
On August 14, 2008, Powell signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. Over two seasons with the Lakers, he won two NBA championships.
On July 26, 2010, Powell signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks.
China, Switzerland and Puerto Rico
In September 2011, Powell signed with the Liaoning Flying Leopards for the 2011–12 CBA season. Following the CBA season, he joined Union Neuchâtel Basket for their Swiss Cup semi-final game.
On March 29, 2012, Powell signed with Puerto Rican team Brujos de Guayama. Exactly one month later, he was replaced in the line-up by Marcus Fizer.
On September 27, 2012, Powell signed with the San Antonio Spurs for training camp. He was later waived by the Spurs on October 26, 2012, after appearing in six preseason games.
On November 2, 2012, Powell signed with Greek team Olympiacos. He went on to help the team win the 2012–13 EuroLeague championship.
On September 30, 2013, Powell signed with the New York Knicks for training camp. He was later waived by the Knicks on October 25, 2013, after appearing in five preseason games.
On October 30, 2013, Powell signed with the Guangdong Southern Tigers for the 2013–14 CBA season.
On April 1, 2014, Powell joined the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel of the Philippine Basketball Association, one day before making his Commissioner's Cup debut. He parted ways with Ginebra on April 13, 2014, after receiving an NBA call-up.
Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks