With the No. 13 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the New Orleans Pelicans selected Kira Lewis out of Alabama.
Lewis played two seasons with the Crimson Tide. In his sophomore campaign, Lewis averaged 18.5 points, 5.2 assists, 4.8 rebounds and shot 45.9% from the field and 36.6% from range.
The noteworthy aspect of his playstyle is the speed at which he plays, earning the reputation as one of the fastest players in the draft. Despite moving on from Alvin Gentry’s up-tempo style after last season, Lewis could still be an appealing option next to Lonzo Ball, another player who flourishes in a fast-paced system.
In an interview for HoopsHype, Lewis discussed his fast playstyle:
“It helps me a lot, just being able to play fast. I like to use different pace and different speed – sometimes going from fast to slow then from slow to fast. Just having that burst, it helps a lot. It really got carried down from my family. My mom ran track, and my dad was fast just from his body type and his family members. It’s really just always been in me.”
The Pelicans do intend to keep Lewis after discussing trades while on the clock, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.