Pelicans select Kira Lewis with No. 13 pick
With the No. 13 pick of the 2020 NBA Draft, the New Orleans Pelicans selected Alabama standout Kira Lewis.
The 6-foot-3 floor general was the Crimson Tide's top-rated 2018 recruit after reclassifying a year early. Lewis immediately delivered in a starting role despite being the second-youngest player in NCAA Division I basketball during his freshman year. He averaged a team-high 13.5 points that season and was named to the SEC All-Freshman team.
Lewis continued his upward trajectory in 2019-20. He registered 18.5 points, 5.2 assists, and 1.8 steals per contest en route to earning All-SEC first-team honors. Lewis also made 206 field goals during his sophomore season to top all players in the conference.
The 19-year-old was entrusted with most of the ball-handling duties last season, but he believes his role hid other aspects of his game.
"You really didn't get to see my off-ball potential," Lewis told reporters, including theScore, during his recent NBA draft media availability. "I have to say I've really been getting better at ... relocating to a spot (on the floor) to create a lot of space for my teammates to have driving opportunities."
Bio
Position: PG
School: Alabama
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 165 lbs
Wingspan: 6-foot-6
Max vertical: N/A
Strengths
- Puts pressure on defenses with his blazing speed in transition
- Excellent creating and scoring out of the pick-and-roll
- Quick first step allows him to get to the rim with ease
- Uses length and instincts to jump passing lanes
- Outside threat; shot 36.2% on nearly five triples per game across two seasons at Alabama
Weaknesses
- Needs to improve his decision-making; had an SEC-leading 110 turnovers last season
- Slight frame leaves him vulnerable against physical guards
- Can get a bit reckless on drives to the basket
- Mid-range game is a work in progress