Jaylen Nowell
Former Timberwolves guard and Pac-12 Player of the Year now playing for Beşiktaş.
Jaylen Clinton Andrew Nowell (born July 9, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for Beşiktaş of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the Washington Huskies of the Pac-12 Conference, and was named the conference's player of the year in 2019. He was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 2019 NBA draft.
Quick Facts
- Draft pick
- 43rd Overall
- Status
- Former Roster Member
Lore & Background
Nowell was born in Seattle to Lanie and Mike Nowell. His parents met at Clark Atlanta University, where they both played basketball. His father played professionally in the Continental Basketball Association. Nowell attended high school in Seattle at Garfield High, where he was a standout player. At the University of Washington, he was originally part of a five-player recruiting class considered the best in the Huskies' history. After Washington coach Lorenzo Romar was fired, he was the lone member who remained committed to the school and first-year coach Mike Hopkins. As a freshman in 2017–18, Nowell averaged 16.0 points per game. 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. Following Washington's loss in the 2019 NCAA men's basketball tournament, Nowell announced his intention to forgo his final two seasons of collegiate eligibility and declare for the 2019 NBA draft.
Reader's Guide
Nowell was selected with the 43rd overall pick in the second round by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2019 NBA draft. He signed with the Timberwolves on August 6, 2019, and made his NBA debut on November 6, 2019. He played for the Timberwolves through the 2022–23 season, appearing in 184 regular-season games and 6 playoff games. After his time with Minnesota, he played for the Stockton Kings, Memphis Grizzlies, Detroit Pistons, Capital City Go-Go, New Orleans Pelicans, and Shanxi Loongs before signing with Beşiktaş on July 12, 2026.
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