Tag: Kira Lewis Jr.

The NBA is on hold right now as everybody deals with the effects of the global coronavirus pandemic so the majority of the attention turns to the summer and, most notably, the NBA Draft.

The Philadelphia 76ers, surprisingly, hold the 22nd pick in the draft due to the success of the Oklahoma City Thunder that nobody saw coming. So, with that pick, they can fill a lot of different needs. One of those needs is shooting–obviously–but another need is bench scoring and a backup point guard. This latest mock draft fills both of the bench needs in one player.

NBC Sports has Alabama point guard Kira Lewis Jr. mocked to the Sixers at 22:

Details: 18 years old, 6-foot-3, 165 lbs
Key Stats: 18.5 ppg, 5.2 apg, 4.8 rpg, 1.7 spg, 37% 3PT

Lewis checks a lot of boxes. He’s young for a sophomore — he enrolled at Alabama as a 17-year old and won’t turn 19 until April — and he put up huge numbers for an Alabama team that is built to run, run, run and shoot nothing but threes and layups. He also shot 37 percent from three for the second consecutive season. He’s slender, he’s turnover prone and part of the reason he produced as much as he did this season was because of the pace that Alabama played at. He’s worth a first round pick, especially considering his age.

The Sixers tried to fill their backup point guard need with Raul Neto and Trey Burke, but neither have worked out. Neto has been pushed out of the rotation with the emergence of Shake Milton and the acquisition of Alec Burks and Burke isn’t even with the team anymore. So, Lewis Jr. can fill a lot of needs for this team on the offensive end when Ben Simmons hits the bench. [lawrence-related id=30129,30118,30112]

Everybody’s attention in the basketball world has turned to the offseason and the NBA Draft with the league in suspension due to the global coronavirus pandemic. We here at Sixers Wire have been highlighting 10 of the more realistic draft options for the Philadelphia 76ers who hold the 22nd pick in the draft and this edition is part 9 of the series.

If you have missed any earlier parts, you can check it out here.

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This edition focuses on a speedy point guard from Alabama who would fill plenty of needs on this team whether it be scoring off the bench, an ability to push the pace, and another capable shooter.

Kira Lewis Jr., Alabama

As mentioned in plenty of other draft posts for the Sixers, they need a competent backup point guard option behind Ben Simmons. The Raul Neto experiment hasn’t been what the team expected and that opens up a need for that spot right now. Lewis Jr. averaged 18.5 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 36.6% from deep.

He got to the free-throw line 4.2 times per game and that is an aspect that Philadelphia needs off their bench. They need a guy who can adequately run their offense, but also give the team an offensive option as well. He is not afraid of getting to the basket and his speed can be a difference-maker. Philadelphia plays at a pace of 98.8 which is good for 19th in the league and that is with an athlete like Simmons running things.

Bryan Kalbrosky, our draft expert over at Rookie Wire, has Lewis Jr. going 19th in the draft to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Milwaukee is playing with the fastest pace (105.4) of any team in the NBA this season. They need players who are capable of playing fast, and there are few, if any, better in this class than Alabama point guard Kira Lewis. His team played at the fastest tempo among all top-100 teams, per KenPom. Lewis also scored 5.1 points per game in transition, according to Synergy, which ranked among the top 20 of all Division I players. Only the Raptors, meanwhile, finish offensive possessions in transition more often than Milwaukee. Lewis could be the point guard of the future for the Bucks, and he could reach new heights playing alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo.

That speed can be huge for this team. Neto is not exactly a speedster when he is out there on the floor. When Simmons heads to the bench, the team could throw Lewis Jr. out there and have him run things and the team won’t miss a beat in terms of speed. He can also play in tandem with Simmons as the team intends to use the All-Star point guard more as a roller in the pick-and-roll game.

In terms of his defense, he averaged 1.8 steals per game. He has length out on the perimeter to bother opponents and that can trigger a fastbreak for Philadelphia. There, of course, is a chance that he is not there at 22, but if he is, the Sixers can’t let him slide. [lawrence-related id=29598,29591,29575]

This is a weird time for everybody in the world as everybody tries to handle their business during the global coronavirus pandemic. In terms of the NBA, the season has been on hiatus since March 11 and everybody’s attention has turned mostly to the NBA Draft.

For now, the draft is scheduled for June 25. Will it remain on that date? Time will certainly tell, but for now, let’s take a look at some mock drafts.

The Philadelphia 76ers own the 22nd pick in the draft due to the success the Oklahoma City Thunder had as the pick will convey to Philadelphia. They have plenty of options to look at with the pick and one name that has popped up recently has been Alabama point guard Kira Lewis Jr.

NBC Sports Chicago recently released their own mock draft and they have the Sixers selecting the speedster at 22:

Another player who made a big move up draft boards following a strong sophomore season at Alabama. Lewis is one of the fastest players in the draft, similar to current Kings’ point guard De’Aaron Fox. He’s not an exceptional outside shooter, but his speed in the open court makes him an excellent change of pace player off the bench for a contending team.

Lewis Jr. averaged 18.5 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.8 rebounds as a sophomore for the Crimson Tide and, in theory, he would be a very good fit on a contender like the Sixers. He can hop off the bench and provide some speed and an attacking style as he gets to the foul line 4.2 times per game which would be a huge asset for Philadelphia off the bench. [lawrence-related id=29140,29132,29124]