Alabama’s Kira Lewis Jr. Drafted 13th Overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2020 NBA Draft
11/19/2020 12:18:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Lewis becomes the 16th Crimson Tide standout chosen in first round, seventh UA player selected among the top-15
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Former Alabama men’s basketball guard Kira Lewis Jr. was selected by the New Orleans Pelicans as the No. 13 overall pick at the 2020 National Basketball Association Draft on Wednesday night.
Lewis was surrounded by his family, friends, coaches and former teammates at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Ala., to celebrate the NBA Draft proceedings. The family heard the news in a private room before joining the celebration later in the night.
LEWIS ON JOINING THE NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
“It’s very exciting to be a part of such a great young organization like the New Orleans Pelicans. They have a lot of veterans and younger players who mesh well. They compete, play above the rim and like to get out and run and play at fast pace, which is something I love. The fans and city of New Orleans are terrific and really support this organization. It’s a great situation because I feel like I can come right in and help them in whatever way they ask me for.”
DRAFT NUGGETS
- Lewis becomes the 16th Alabama player to be chosen in the first round and is the seventh UA player selected with a top-15 pick in program history, joining Collin Sexton (No. 8 in 2018), Antonio McDyess (No. 2 overall in 1995), Robert Horry (No. 11 overall in 1992), Derrick McKey (No. 9 overall in 1987), Ennis Whatley (No. 13 overall in 1982) and Leon Douglas (No. 4 overall in 1976)
- Lewis becomes the first Alabama player ever selected by the New Orleans Pelicans
- With his selection, Lewis is the second Crimson Tide point guard in the last three years to be selected among the lottery in the NBA Draft (Collin Sexton selected No. 8 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2018 NBA Draft)
- Prior to Sexton and Lewis’ selections, the last Alabama player to be selected in the first round was Gerald Wallace in 2001 (No. 25 overall)
Gallery: 11-18-20 MBB Kira Lewis NBA Draft Day
ALABAMA CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- First Team All-SEC and First Team United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) All-District honors in 2020
- 2019 First Team All-SEC
- Averaged 18.5 points, 5.2 assists, 1.8 steals and a league-leading 37.6 minutes per contest as a sophomore last season
- Finished the year with 29 double-digit scoring contests, eight games of scoring 20 or more and three 30-point contests.
- Also ranked as one of the top transition players in all of college basketball, as his 5.1 transition points per game were fourth-best among all Division I players a year ago
- Started all 65 games across his freshman and sophomore seasons and collected 1,013 points (15.9 ppg), 260 assists (4.0 apg) and 84 steals (1.3 spg)
- Only the second Alabama player in program history to eclipse 1,000 points in his first two seasons, joining only James "Hollywood" Robinson
- Played as the youngest men’s basketball player in all of Division I in 2018-19 on his way to earning SEC All-Freshman honors.
- One of 12 members who made up the 2019 USA Basketball Men’s U19 World Cup Team roster that won the gold medal in Greece
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