Toronto Raptors undrafted rookie Markquis Nowell is clearly not short on confidence.
Heading into his first year with a franchise that has seen the likes of Vince Carter, Kyle Lowry, Chris Bosh, Demar DeRozan and even Kawhi Leonard (for a season) put on a Raptors uniform, the 23-year-old guard is determined to be the best of the bunch.
Nowell posted an Instagram story to his personal account late Monday night with the words "I will make history as the best Raptor to ever put on a uniform" overtop a photo of a packed Scotiabank Arena.
Quite a bold statement for a player who has yet to suit up for his first career NBA game. But if it's one thing the five-foot-eight guard has never lacked, it's belief in his game.
Just look at his run through last year's NCAA Tournament, when he led the Kansas St. Wildcats to the elite eight by making big shot after big shot.
Nowell told the New York Post in the lead-up to the NBA draft that he is on a mission to prove those doubting him because of his size wrong.
“I use it as fuel, motivation to prove people who don’t believe in me wrong,” he said. “It’s another chapter in the book, it’s another story I have to write to make it to the NBA. I’m just happy that I even get to showcase my talents in front of scouts.”
The Raptors signed Nowell to a two-way contract prior to the 2023-24 season. In four NBA Summer League games with the Raptors Nowell averaged 12 points and 6.75 assists per contest.
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