Exclusive: How Overtime Elite Found “USA’s Nikola Jokic” in 7 ft Peyton Marshall

Stepping stones are special. Missouri Commit Peyton Marshall just spoke about his time at the Overtime Elite that has paved the pathway for the exemplary center. While he is having the time of his life, not many know that he has had an exceptional journey since his high school. Furthermore, his skills are so remarkable that he is often compared with the Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić.

Marshall spoke at length about how he was selected by the Overtime Elite and how that influenced his game. And that grabbed a lot of attention.

What did Marshall say?

Marshall was vocal about his love for his team. All the more so, because it has acted as a stepping stone for a wonderful career ahead since he was acquired by Missouri. The interview took place at the ES Fan Cast by Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on Saturday. For the record, ES Fan Cast is an exclusive section promoted by Essentially Sports.

“I just fell like it was the… I had got recruited and I had been talking about people… my people… the trusted people in my family ofcourse. And it made me feel like it was the right decision to me to better my career and take my game to the next level. It helped me grow in tremendous ways, I had been here like only January. I came in September… It’s not that long a time but it’s a long time when you think about it. I can already see the growth in my body. My overall game as well. I feel like my game is improving in tremendous way.,” Marshall said.

As per Overtime Elite’s official site, Marshall smashed 9 points per game and contributed with 4.5 rebounds per match during the 2023-2024 season. He had a similar stat during the preseason when he smoked 8.6 points per game and nabbed 4.8 rebounds per contest. Much similar to the Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, Marshall has taken complete advantage of his height contributing with both points and rebounds. 

Marshall has thus proven to be an essential player for his team much like Jokić. While Jokić stands at 6 feet 11 inches, Marshall is 7 feet tall. That is another uncanny similarity between the two.

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And going ahead in the NCAA tournament, the Missouri commit can only be expected to amp up his game and perhaps learn the tricks of the trade by observing Jokić’s exceptional performances. And Marshall’s tryst with centers doesn’t end with Jokić.

Which center inspires Marshall?

When asked about his favorite center between the NBA legends Shaquille O’Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon, Marshall chose the former. He also gave the reason behind his decision, stating that he was very familiar with Shaq. And given Marshall’s age, perhaps Shaq would have been more accessible to the youngster.

Hopefully, these comparisons with NBA stars stand true for Marshall going ahead in his career. And these instances only propel him to work harder and provide him the motivation to perform at the highest level.

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