The Toronto Raptors’ home stand continued against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.
Toronto got blown out 128-112 as Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was out with a calf injury.
Damian Lillard had a huge game as he finished with 37 points, 13 assists and four rebounds. Things got out of hand quickly for the Raptors, falling behind 70-47 at halftime.
Due to the blowout, the Raptors waived the white flag and emptied their bench late in the fourth quarter. As a result Raptors rookie Markquis Nowell made his official NBA debut. He saw 4 minutes of action and in that short time, Nowell was able to provide a highlight:
Markquis Nowell with a bit of showtime in his NBA debut! 👀💫 pic.twitter.com/FWpO152KuI
— THE SHIFT (@theshift_sports) November 16, 2023
Nowell was also able to score his first basket in the league and took to X to appreciate the moment:
Dear God, Thank You 🙌🏼 … Scored My First NBA Bucket !! Many More To Come 😈👀
— Markquis Nowell (@MrNewYorkCityy) November 16, 2023
Nowell is currently on a two-way contract with the Raptors and has been outspoken and ambitious about his goals for his NBA career. The 5’8″ guard has even made it known that he will be the best Raptors play ever.
A two-way contract allows for a player to play between an NBA roster and their G-League affiliate, allowing for Nowell to make an impression on the team and earn minutes.
Despite only playing four minutes against the Bucks, this is the first step in Nowell’s career. It will be hard for the guard to find minutes in the Raptors’ rotation, but progress is being made.
Proving his worth in the G-League will be beneficial for him earning minutes at the NBA level in the future.
Markquis Nowell’s college career
Nowell had a five-year career in college. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it gave NCAA athletes another year of eligibility. He spent his last two seasons at Kansas State, playing 63 games with the Wildcats.
In his last season he averaged 17.6 points, 8.3 assists and 2.6 steals on 38.6% shooting from the field and 35.5% shooting from beyond the arc. He led Kansas State to the Elite Eight in the 2023 March Madness tournament.
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