QUEBEC CITY—It was a master class in basketball strategy and technique that Norm Powell sat through for a couple of days, with information flowing from the icon he admires more than any.
It was intense and dealt with unimaginable basketball minutia, and what Powell took away from listening to and learning from Kobe Bryant has to help the Raptors veteran as he pursues a spot in the starting lineup.
The summer boot camp — 18 or so players, by invite only, on the private court at Bryant’s California home — hammered home to Powell just how intricate his play needs to be, how much he has to think the game rather than just play it.