Checking in at 5’8, NBA Draft prospect and point guard Markquis Nowell is considered small for his position. However, the Kansas State product is hoping he proved enough in the Wizards pre-draft workout on Saturday to show he has what it takes to be successful in the NBA.
“I wanted to show that I’m able play on a NBA level despite my size,” Nowell shared after his workout. “I have a lot of intangibles that I think I can bring to a team. I’m a good teammate. I’m a hard worker. I’m going to defend whether you’re 5’7 or 7’4. I’m going to go out there and compete and I’m going to bring a winning attitude. That’s what I think I can bring to every organization in the NBA.”
If there is any NBA team that doesn’t have a problem working with smaller point guards, it’s the Wizards. Muggsy Bogues (5’3), Earl Boykins (5’5), Isaiah Thomas (5’9) and Michael Adams (5’10) all successfully suited up in a Washington uniform.
In fact, Nowell has been gaining some wisdom from Bogues throughout the pre-draft process.
“He gave me a couple of things. The most important thing is just keep being a good person.” Nowell told Double Take Sports when asked what advice from Bogues has stuck with him. “Being a good person is so underrated and it can get you into a lot of doors. So, he was like just keep being a good person and keep doing what got you here because I made it this far. Don’t try to be nothing I’m not and just continue to keep building and continue to keep growing.
Nowell also shared that the pre-draft process teaches the prospects things about themselves. He is learning some things about himself: “Just staying mentally strong throughout this process. You’re doing a lot of different things so you’ve got to stay disciplined.”
While size comes up when assessing Nowell as a prospect, his college accomplishments speak for itself. He holds career averages of 14.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.2 steals per game in 131 games with Little Rock and Kansas State. As a fifth-year senior in 2022-23, Nowell averaged 17.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 2.6 steals per game with the Wildcats. He recorded 54 assists in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, the third- most in the tournament’s history.
Nowell will continue to make his workout rounds across the league to try to secure a selection in the NBA Draft on June 22nd. Up next he is headed workouts with the Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns, and Los Angeles Clippers.