In a game of giants, Surviving measuring only 1.70 meters is heroic. It's what it does Markquis Nowell, base del Baskoniawho throughout his career has had to fight against prejudice: many times discarded due to his short stature without thinking that perhaps it was a great concentration of talent. At 25 years old, he is still determined to contradict those who think that with that height you cannot succeed in basketball.
“I use it as fuel, as motivation to prove those who don't believe in me that they are wrong.”assures the point guard, who this Thursday visits Real Madrid in a Euroleague match. Is one of the shortest players to have ever played in the top continental competition. In the Endesa League, where they give him 1.72 meters, he is the smallest of this century and third in the historical ranking, led by the 167 centimeters of Quique Azcón, who in the 90s played for Júver Murcia and also in Vitoria.
Markquis Nowell tries to block a shot in the game against Armani Milan.
Since growing up in Harlem, Nowell has had to live with comments about his small size as soon as he stepped on the court. At Kansas State University he became one of the best passers in the NCAA. In fact, he has, with 19, the record for assists in a Division I game.. His good performance was not enough for him to be chosen in the NBA draft in 2023. The most he ever did was play a game with the Raptors.who gave him a two-way contract.
I use comments about my height as fuel, as motivation to prove those who don't believe in me wrong.
It was just over three minutes of glory. Thanks to them he entered the rankings of Shortest players in the history of the best League in the world. There, where they also size him at 1.70 meters, He surpasses only the iconic Muggsy Bogues (1.60 m.), Earl Boykins, dunk contest winner Spud Webb and Mel Hirsch.
Contacting illustrious shorts
In his attempt to reach the NBA, Nowell contacted some guards who made careers despite having a reduced height. spoke with the aforementioned Muggsy Boguescon Isiah Thomascon Isaiah Thomascon Jose Alvaradocon Kemba Walkercon Nate Robinson… “I wanted to have a kind of feeling of security, build relationships with those who did it before. I wanted to see if they had any knowledge or wisdom that I could learn and apply throughout my career,” he says.
Markquis Nowell, in a Baskonia match against Red Star.
Doing good training sessions against NBA franchises, his direction of play or his defensive intensity did not convince. The previous season was spent in the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the G League and in September he signed for Baskonia. His non-EU status hinders him in the Endesa League, where he has only played five games as coach Paolo Galbiati had to make discards. But in the Euroleague it is a fixture. In the Vitorian ranks, only Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Matteo Spagnolo, Khalifa Diop and him have participated in the 14 days. He has averages of 6.6 points and 3.9 assists.
In the NCAA, in the NBA, in the Endesa League or in the Euroleague, Nowell has attracted attention for his height and there have always been doubts about his abilities. He keeps repeating that “size doesn't matter in this sport. It's about how hard you work and how smart you are. I feel like there's no one who works harder than me.”. “That's where my confidence comes from.”
