ESPN basketball analyst thinks Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell can thrive in NBA
It will come as a surprise if Markquis Nowell is selected in the NBA Draft on Thursday night, but it won’t shock anyone if he catches on with a team as a free agent shortly after the final pick is announced and then proves himself worthy of a roster spot.
That is exactly how ESPN basketball analyst Jay Bilas sees things playing out.
“He’s either going to get drafted or have his phone ring right away as soon as the draft is over,” Bilas said in a conference call ahead of the draft, “because he can play. He can really play.”
Nowell worked his way onto the NBA Draft radar with a sensational senior year at Kansas State that saw him average 17.6 points and 8.3 assists for the Wildcats as they won 26 games and advanced to the Elite Eight.
He is only 5-foot-8 and 160 pounds, but no one could stop the undersized point guard during the NCAA Tournament. His postseason stat lines looked like they came out of a video game — 17 points and 14 assists against Montana State, 27 points and nine assists against Kentucky, 20 points and 19 assists against Michigan State and then 30 points and 12 assists against Florida Atlantic.
That was enough for Nowell to earn an invitation to the NBA’s G League Scouting Combine, where he put on a show in front of pro scouts. He also worked out privately with 10 NBA teams, a group that including the Hawks, Pacers, Rockets and Wizards.
During a brief phone conversation this week, Nowell said his schedule his been “jam packed” with interviews and workouts for the past month. He is hopeful that an NBA team will use a draft pick on him on Thursday, but he is also prepared to work for a roster spot should he go overlooked.
“That’s nothing new for me,” Nowell said. “I’ve been doing that my whole life.”
His size is an obvious concern as he tries to embark on a professional career, but small guards have found success in the NBA before. Perhaps Nowell and his “heart over height” motto could be next on the list.
“The only thing he lacks is size,” Bilas said. “He’s not a big player. But man, that guy can roll. He’s an unbelievable passer. He’s a competitor. He can score. I think the world of him as a player.”
If the NBA doesn’t work out, Nowell would almost certainly get an opportunity with the G League or a professional team overseas. But Bilas isn’t ready to discuss Plan B or Plan C just yet.
“I think he’s going to not only play in the NBA, but I think he’s got an opportunity to play for quite some time,” Bilas said. “But it goes back to the potential thing. You know exactly what you’re getting with him and you’re getting somebody who you can rely on and who I think is going to be very good. ... He is outstanding. I am a huge fan of his.”