Maxwell Lewis
{{short description|American basketball player (born 2002)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Maxwell Lewis
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| position = Small forward
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 7
| weight_lbs = 215
| league =
| team = Free agent
| number =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2002|7|27}}
| birth_place = Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
| high_school = * Somerset-Losee
(Las Vegas, Nevada)
- AZ Compass Prep
(Chandler, Arizona)
| college = Pepperdine (2021–2023)
| draft_year = 2023
| draft_round = 2
| draft_pick = 40
| draft_team = Denver Nuggets
| career_start = 2023
| years1 = {{nbay|2023|start}}–{{nbay|2024|start}}
| team1 = Los Angeles Lakers
| team2 = →South Bay Lakers
| years3 = {{nbay|2024|full=y}}
| team3 = Brooklyn Nets
| highlights = * NBA Cup champion (2023)
- Second-team All-WCC (2023)
- WCC All-Freshman team (2022)
}}
Maxwell Lewis (born July 27, 2002) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Pepperdine Waves.
Lewis was selected in the second round with the 40th overall pick by the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 NBA draft, but was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers on draft night. As a rookie, Lewis and the Lakers won the first ever NBA Cup championship in 2023. During his time with Los Angeles, he has been assigned to their NBA G League affiliate the South Bay Lakers several times before being traded to the Nets in 2024.
Early life
Lewis' father, Robert, is from Los Angeles, California, and moved for work to Las Vegas, Nevada, where Lewis was born and raised.{{cite web |last1=Woike |first1=Dan |title=Maxwell Lewis living an NBA dream that shocks one Lakers-loving fan — his dad |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2023-07-17/lakers-maxwell-lewis-rookie-pepperdine-dad |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=July 24, 2023 |date=July 17, 2023}} Robert served as a coach in recreational youth leagues in the Las Vegas Valley.{{cite web |last1=Gordon |first1=Sam |title=A talented Las Vegan’s unconventional path toward the NBA |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/basketball/vegasmadness/a-talented-las-vegans-unconventional-path-toward-the-nba-2747909/ |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |access-date=May 29, 2023 |date=March 21, 2023}} Lewis played basketball in his childhood but stopped playing organized basketball as an elementary school student at the request of his father who believed that a coach was treating him poorly. Lewis instead studied the saxophone to replace his idle time but continued to play pickup basketball and trained with his older brother. He had a growth spurt four years later that enabled his father to let him play basketball again and made a return in a National Junior Basketball League. Lewis led the league in scoring and attracted attention from coaches but enrolled at Somerset-Losse specifically to play in its jazz and concert bands.
High school career
Somerset-Losee did not have a basketball team during Lewis' freshman year so he played junior varsity at Mojave High School. Somerset-Losee introduced a boys basketball team during Lewis' sophomore year in 2017–18 where he averaged 28 points and 13 rebounds per game. Lewis desired greater competition than the outstate schools and other charters that Somerset-Losee played so he transferred to Ed W. Clark High School and reclassified to the graduating class of 2021.{{cite web |last1=Obert |first1=Richard |title=Maxwell Lewis has made hoop detours on way to AZ Compass Prep |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/high-school/2019/07/25/maxwell-lewis-hoops-detour-las-vegas-led-him-az-compass-prep/1828934001/ |website=AZ Central |access-date=May 29, 2023 |date=July 25, 2019}} He was relegated to junior varsity amid the transfer rules of the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association and decided to transfer again to AZ Compass Prep.
Lewis thrived against national competition during his junior season in 2019–20 and earned scholarship offers from high major college programs. On July 21, 2020, he announced that he would bypass college and his senior high school season in favor of Chameleon BX, a preparatory program in San Francisco, which was designed to prepare players for the NBA draft.{{cite web |last1=Gershon |first1=Josh |title=Maxwell Lewis bypassing college to prepare for NBA Draft |url=https://247sports.com/Article/Maxwell-Lewis-bypassing-college-to-prepare-for-NBA-Draft-149345452/ |website=247 Sports |access-date=May 29, 2023 |date=July 21, 2020}} Lewis trained for several months with emphasis on strength, cardio and calisthenics but departed before the program concluded. He returned to Las Vegas and preserved one year of club basketball where he played in 2021 as an unsigned senior. Lewis no longer had offers from the high major colleges that had recruited him but received a scholarship offer to play for the Pepperdine Waves under head coach Lorenzo Romar.
College career
Lewis missed the first three games of his career with the Waves due to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) reviewing his eligibility after attending Chameleon BX.{{cite web |last1=Gardner |first1=David |title=His program was built to prep prospects for the NBA draft. It left them adrift instead. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/11/16/chameleon-bx-nba-draft-masked-trainer/ |website=The Washington Post |access-date=May 29, 2023 |date=November 16, 2021}} He played as a reserve during his freshman season with the Waves and averaged 11 points per game. On February 12, 2022, he suffered a season-ending wrist injury.{{cite web |last1=Jackson |first1=McKenzie |title=Pepperdine Basketball Players Receive Freshman Honors |url=https://malibutimes.com/pepperdine-basketball-players-receive-freshman-honors |website=The Malibu Times |access-date=May 29, 2023 |date=March 14, 2022}} Lewis was selected to the West Coast Conference (WCC) All-Freshman team.{{cite web |title=Timme Tabbed WCC Player Of The Year |url=https://wccsports.com/news/2022/3/2/mens-basketball-timme-tabbed-wcc-player-of-the-year.aspx |website=West Coast Conference |access-date=May 29, 2023 |date=March 2, 2022}}
Lewis was moved to the starting lineup during his sophomore season, and averaged 16.6 points per game.{{cite web |last1=Givony |first1=Jonathan |title=Pepperdine's Maxwell Lewis 'going all-in,' will enter NBA draft |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/35905984/pepperdine-maxwell-lewis-going-all-enter-nba-draft |website=ESPN |access-date=May 29, 2023 |date=March 20, 2023}} He was selected to the All-WCC Second Team.{{cite web |title=WCC Announces 2022-23 Men's Basketball All-Conference Awards |url=https://wccsports.com/news/2023/2/25/athlete-awards-wcc-announces-2022-23-mens-basketball-all-conference-awards.aspx |website=West Coast Conference |access-date=May 29, 2023 |date=March 1, 2023}} Lewis gained the attention of National Basketball Association (NBA) executives throughout the season who were enticed by his physical dimensions and shot creating abilities. On March 20, 2023, Lewis declared for the 2023 NBA draft. He was invited to participate at the NBA Draft Combine.{{cite web |last1=Peek |first1=Krysten |title=The rise of mid-major prospects: Pepperdine's Maxwell Lewis carving his own path to the NBA |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/the-rise-of-mid-major-prospects-pepperdines-maxwell-lewis-carving-his-own-path-to-the-nba-155007884.html |website=Yahoo Sports |access-date=May 29, 2023 |date=May 17, 2023}}
Professional career
=Los Angeles / South Bay Lakers (2023–2024)=
Lewis was selected with the 40th pick in the 2023 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets. His draft rights were traded to the Los Angeles Lakers later in the draft.{{cite web|first=Matthew|last=Winick|title=Nuggets select Maxwell Lewis with No. 40 pick reportedly on behalf of Lakers|url=https://www.thescore.com/nba/news/2660237/amp|website=TheScore.com|date=June 23, 2023|access-date=June 27, 2023}} On July 8, 2023, Lewis signed with the Lakers.{{cite web|title=Los Angeles Lakers Sign Jalen Hood-Schifino and Maxwell Lewis|url=https://www.nba.com/lakers/news/los-angeles-lakers-sign-jalen-hood-schifino-and-maxwell-lewis-070823|website=NBA.com|date=July 8, 2023|access-date=September 26, 2023}} On December 9, 2023, Lewis and the Lakers won the inaugural season of the NBA In-Season Tournament.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-10 |title=Lakers take NBA Cup as AD explodes for 41-20 |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39080368/lakers-win-nba-cup-lebron-james-earns-season-tournament-mvp |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
Throughout his rookie and sophomore seasons, Lewis has been assigned several times to the South Bay Lakers.{{cite web|title=2023-2024 South Bay Lakers Transaction History|url=https://basketball.realgm.com/gleague/teams/South-Bay-Lakers/12/Transaction_History/2024|website=RealGM.com|access-date=December 17, 2024}}{{cite web|title=2024-2025 South Bay Lakers Transaction History|url=https://basketball.realgm.com/gleague/teams/South-Bay-Lakers/12/Transaction_History/2025|website=RealGM.com|access-date=December 17, 2024}}
=Brooklyn Nets (2024–2025)=
On December 29, 2024, Lewis, D'Angelo Russell, and three future second-round picks were traded to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton.{{cite web|title=Brooklyn Nets Complete Trade With Los Angeles Lakers|url=https://www.nba.com/nets/news/brooklyn-nets-complete-trade-with-los-angeles-lakers|website=NBA.com|date=December 29, 2024|access-date=December 29, 2024}} On January 1, 2025, in his first game with Brooklyn, Lewis suffered a fractured left tibia and was subsequently ruled out for at least four weeks.{{Cite web|title=Recently Traded Former Lakers Guard Suffers Significant Injury With Nets|url=https://www.si.com/nba/lakers/news/recently-traded-former-lakers-guard-suffers-significant-injury-with-nets-01jgq5rsybfk|access-date=January 4, 2025|website=si.com|language=en}} On April 3, Lewis made his first start of his career in which he recorded 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists in a 105-90 loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves.{{Cite web |last=Phillips-Keaton |first=Sharif |title=Nets' Maxwell Lewis reacts to first start, seeing more playing time |url=https://netswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/nets/2025/04/06/nets-maxwell-lewis-reacts-to-first-start-seeing-more-playing-time/82963967007/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=Nets Wire |language=en-US}} On June 27, Lewis was waived by the Nets.{{Cite web |date=June 27, 2025 |title=Brooklyn Nets Waive Maxwell Lewis |url=https://x.com/KeithSmithNBA/status/1938682080642359524?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet}}
Lewis played for the Dallas Mavericks during the 2025 NBA Summer League.{{Cite web |date=2025-07-05 |title=Dallas Mavericks Sign Former Lakers Guard For NBA Summer League |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/nba/fastbreak/dallas-mavericks-sign-former-lakers-guard-for-nba-summer-league-maxwell-lewis |access-date=2025-07-11 |website=Fastbreak On SI |language=en-US}}
Career statistics
{{NBA player statistics legend}}
=NBA=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2023}}
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 34 || 0 || 3.0 || .190 || .111 || .667 || .1 || .2 || .1 || .0 || .3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2| {{nbay|2024}}
| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers
| 7 || 0 || 4.1 || .333 || {{sort|-|—}} || {{sort|-|—}} || .3 || .3 || .1 || .0 || .6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Brooklyn
| 21 || 1 || 14.2 || .422 || .380 || .700 || 2.5 || .8 || .4 || .3 || 5.3
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 62 || 1 || 7.0 || .380 || .339 || .692 || 1.0 || .4 || .2 || .1 || 2.0
{{S-end}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Basketball stats}}
- [https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/maxwell-lewis-1.html College statistics]
- [https://pepperdinewaves.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/maxwell-lewis/3902 Pepperdine Waves bio]
{{navboxes|list=
{{Los Angeles Lakers 2023 NBA Cup champions}}
{{2023 NBA draft}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Maxwell}}
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Basketball players from Las Vegas
Category:Brooklyn Nets players
Category:Denver Nuggets draft picks
Category:Los Angeles Lakers players