Alabama is sending another electric point guard to the NBA. Kira Lewis Jr. became the second Crimson Tide player drafted in the past three years when he was selected No. 13 overall by the New Orleans Pelicans during Wednesday night’s NBA draft.
"It's just a sigh of relief. You work for it your whole life," Lewis said during a Zoom call with reporters Wednesday night. "You wait for this opportunity, wondering when your name's going to get picked. Just when I heard Commissioner (Adam) Silver say my name, it just flashed before my eyes. I was so happy. I've never been happy like that in my life. It feels good."
Lewis' selection comes two years after Alabama snapped a 10-year draft drought as Collin Sexton was taken No. 8 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Given the Tide's recent momentum, Lewis said he doesn't see that trend slowing down anytime soon.
"It means a good thing to us, my family, the basketball community in Alabama," Lewis said. "Just knowing that Alabama gets a lot of praise for football, but basketball's on the rise. I feel there's a couple players after me that are going to come in and do the same thing and keep that string of Alabama basketball players making it to the next level. So I'm real excited to see that moving forward."
Lewis, 19, graduated high school early to join the Crimson Tide in 2018. The 6-foot-3, 165-pound point guard is regarded as perhaps the fastest player in this year’s draft and has the ability to drive to the rim as well as spot up as a shooter. Last season, he earned All-SEC honors after leading the Crimson Tide in scoring (18.5 ppg), assists (5.2 apg), steals (1.8 spg), minutes (37.6 mpg) and field goals made (206). He also shot 45.9 percent from the floor and 36.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Prior to last season, Lewis earned a gold medal with Team USA during the FIBA U19 World Cup in Greece. He averaged 4.0 points, 1.6 assists and 1.1 rebounds during the tournament.
In New Orleans, Lewis will be inserted into a young roster highlighted by forward Zion Williams. Lewis says he looks forward to pairing with the former Duke star and sees a budding partnership in the future.
"I'm very excited to play with him," Lewis said. "Just throwing the ball up there anywhere at the rim and he's going to catch it. I can't wait for it. A lot of excitement is going to be in New Orleans, and I'm just glad I'm a part of it now."
