Kansas State's Nowell told Isiah Thomas 'watch this' before alley-oop
Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell fired off some trash talk toward Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas during his epic performance at Madison Square Garden on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters after the Wildcats' 98-93 victory over Michigan State, Nowell said he shouted "watch this" at Thomas before his viral alley-oop to Keyontae Johnson late in overtime. He also credited Thomas with providing him with some extra motivation.
"I gotta watch what I say; I be in the zone," Nowell said, per The Sporting News. "Yeah, I was talking to Isiah Thomas, cause I think he had a friend over there, and he was rooting for them. And I'm like, 'You're not gonna win today.' And I just kept looking at him for some added motivation, but it was nothing but cool vibes with them over there."
Thomas came away from Thursday's game very impressed by what he saw from Nowell.
"This was a special night," Thomas told Ian O'Connor of the New York Post. "He can absolutely play in the NBA. He's the real deal."
Nowell finished with 20 points, 19 assists, and five steals in the win, becoming the first Division I player to put up such a stat line in 14 years.