NBA Draft 2020 Prospect Watch: Kira Lewis Jr.
Strengths
At first glance, the combination of Lewis’ speed and quickness sets him apart from other guard prospects in this draft class.
The way with which Lewis can effortlessly burst by opposing defenders in the open floor or on his way to the paint with the ball in his hands is an extremely huge asset for someone who will be entrusted with leading offenses on the NBA level.
Combine that with his slick ball-handling skills and shiftiness as well and Lewis possesses all of the attributes needed to break down NBA defenses and generally keep them on their toes. And the relentless attacking that Lewis regularly shows does provide an outline of how he’ll be able to distribute the ball in an increasingly drive-and-kick league like the NBA.
As far as his shooting goes, Lewis is very capable of knocking down shots, primarily off the ball. Throughout his two seasons in Tuscaloosa, Lewis hit 36.2 percent of his 304 attempts from long range and what’s more encouraging is that Lewis’ shooting mechanics are pretty smooth and effective currently. It certainly helps that he shot 79.3 percent from the foul line as well.
Switching sides, Lewis’ length and knack for seeing plays before they develop help him make action plays within the passing lanes and jumpstart him and his team on the break. And with developing instincts in terms of his ability to defend at the point of attack as well as track back on the glass, Lewis has the potential to provide some resistance at the NBA level when he makes the jump.