At the University of Washington, Nowell was originally part of a five-player recruiting class considered the best in the Huskies' history. However, after Washington coach Lorenzo Romar was fired, he was the lone member who remained committed to the school and first-year coach Mike Hopkins.[5] As a freshman in 2017–18, Nowell averaged 16.0 points per game.[6] The following season, he was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year after leading the Huskies in scoring and helping them win the Pac-12 regular season championship.[7]
On June 20, 2019, Nowell was selected with the 43rd overall pick in the 2nd round by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2019 NBA draft.[8] He was later included in the Timberwolves' roster for the 2019 NBA Summer League.[9] On August 6, Nowell signed with the Timberwolves.[10] He made his NBA debut on November 6, playing one minute in a 121–137 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.[11] On January 1, 2020, Nowell scored a season-high 12 points, alongside two rebounds, in a 104–106 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.[12]
On March 11, 2021, Nowell scored a season-high 28 points, alongside five rebounds and six assists, in a 135–105 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.[13]
On December 27, 2021, Nowell scored a career-high 29 points, alongside six rebounds and three assists, in a 108–103 win over the Boston Celtics.[14] The Timberwolves qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2018 and faced the Memphis Grizzlies during their first round series. Nowell made his playoff debut on April 19, 2022, scoring six points in a 96–124 Game 2 loss.[15] The Timberwolves were eliminated by the Grizzlies in six games.
Stockton Kings / Memphis Grizzlies (2023–2024)
On October 2, 2023, Nowell signed with the Sacramento Kings,[16] but was waived on October 20.[17][18] On November 9, he was named to the opening night roster for the Stockton Kings.[19]
On November 24, 2023, Nowell signed a 10-day contract with the Grizzlies[20] and on December 4, he signed a second 10-day deal.[21] On December 15, he returned to Stockton.[22]
Detroit Pistons (2024)
On April 3, 2024, Nowell signed a 10-day contract with the Detroit Pistons[23] and on April 13, he signed a second 10-day contract.[24]
Capital City Go-Go / New Orleans Pelicans (2024–present)
^Bell, Dan (2019). "Minnesota Timberwolves 2019–20 Media Guide"(PDF). NBA.com. Minnesota Timberwolves. p. 30. Retrieved March 12, 2019. BIRTHDATE: April 4, 1999 in Seattle, Washington
^ abHamilton, Brian (March 6, 2019). "'His game screams': Why Washington's Jaylen Nowell can't stop". The Athletic. Retrieved March 12, 2019. Mike Nowell stood 6-6 and weighed anywhere from 250 to 260 pounds when he played, walking proof of F = m x a and a bulwark post player who set such emphatic screens that he'd knock the wind out of defenders who ran into him.
