The Toronto Raptors are no strangers to undersized guard play. From legends like Fred VanVleet, Kyle Lowry, and Damon Stoudamire to the most prolific shorty of all time Muggsy Bogues, Toronto has seen it all.
And on Monday, the Raptors snapped a 10-year drought when Markquis Nowell became the first player 5-foot-8 or shorter to set foot on a basketball court since Earl Boykins last played in 2012.
The undrafted rookie subbed in late in a blowout loss to the Milwaukee Bucks and, save for his size, didn’t look all that out of place. He picked the pocket of Lindell Wigginton and then threw a behind-the-back pass to Jalen McDaniels in transition for an easy dunk. He added to that another transition assist, finding Garrett Temple for three, and would have had another one if McDaniels had converted his three-pointer after Nowell scooped up the rebound on his own blocked shot.
“Markquis is doing an outstanding job,” Raptors coach Darko Rajaković said pre-game Monday. “From the day we got him, he’s been putting in a lot, a lot of work, he’s very professional player, he’s taking the challenge of playing for our 905 team on a high level. He’s watching film, he’s studying our film, 905 film, he’s like a basketball junkie.
“I expect him to bring intensity at the defensive end, to be able to pick up full court. He’s a really good ball handler, he sees the court really well. ... I think he brings some really interesting intangibles.”
It seemed like Nowell might have been poised for a bigger role against Milwaukee with Dennis Schröder battling through a knee injury but with Schröder cleared to play, Nowell’s role for now remains limited to a deep bench player who should see plenty of G-League action this year.
What’s clear, though, is Toronto likes Nowell. He’s been the only active two-way player in Toronto’s last two games and appears ahead of Javon Freeman-Liberty and Ron Harper Jr. when it comes to the depth pecking order.
Don’t expect Nowell to see rotation minutes anytime soon, but if Schröder does miss time, the Raptors seem content with the undersized guard leading a bench unit in a pinch.
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