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Pelicans receive numerous top grades for Kira Lewis pick

You may be excited about the arrival of Kira Lewis Jr. to New Orleans – but wait until you see what NBA draft experts are saying.

Just three days after he was selected, it’s already widely known that Kira Lewis Jr. is one of the fastest players in the 2020 NBA draft class – perhaps even the fastest.

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Pelicans News Around the Web (11-23-2020)

Draft recap on the New Orleans Pelicans podcast presented by SeatGeek - November 19, 2020

Daniel Sallerson and Jim Eichenhofer recap Wednesday's 2020 NBA Draft and break down the Pelicans first round pick, Kira Lewis.

Pelicans add depth at small forward by grabbing Xavier's Naji Marshall on two-way deal

The New Orleans Pelicans are adding depth at small forward. They plan to sign Naji Marshall, a 6-foot-7 wing, to a two-way contract, Marshall’s agent said Thursday.

Pelicans free agency preview: Who will New Orleans add at center?

After another night of deal-making, David Griffin took one question from the media before he went back to work. In Wednesday’s draft, Griffin, New Orleans’ lead basketball executive, green-lit the selection of Kira Lewis Jr. at 13th overall and then traded away his team’s other three picks for future assets.

Five more things to know about Pelicans draftee Kira Lewis Jr.

There was significant discussion before and after Wednesday’s draft about Lewis’ high-level speed. The 19-year-old said that trait comes from his family, which is filled with athletes and runners.

Pelicans, Kira Lewis Jr. believe team-player fit is ideal in variety of ways

Led by a talented group of players in their early 20s – including arguably the most exciting alley oop dunker in the league – the New Orleans Pelicans have become an NBA League Pass favorite for many basketball fans. By the sounds of it, Kira Lewis Jr.’s television set was also frequently tuned in to games featuring the Pelicans last winter.

Walker: Pelicans' draft pick Kira Lewis has put in plenty of work to get this far

Kira Lewis was a gym rat long before he ever actually stepped foot in a gym.

pelicans-news-around-the-web-11-20-2020

Pelicans News Around the Web (11-20-2020)

Not RJ Hampton, Elijah Hughes, Nick Richards: Pelicans' final 3 picks become 3 quick trades

It's official: With the Pelicans owning No. 24, get ready to welcome point guard RJ Hampton to ... oh wait, he's been traded to the Denver Nuggets.

Pelicans trade 24, 39, 42 in NBA draft, continue to horde assets; see updated war chest

The New Orleans Pelicans continue to add draft capital.

2020 NBA Draft: New Orleans Pelicans trade #39 (Elijah Hughes) to Utah Jazz and #42 (Nick Richards) to Charlotte Hornets

And let’s add some more future draft compensation!

Pelicans select Kira Lewis Jr. with the 13th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft

With the 13th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the New Orleans Pelicans selected guard Kira Lewis Jr. from the University of Alabama.

Fast-paced Pelicans pick Alabama’s Kira Lewis Jr. at No. 13

For much of the 2019-20 regular season, New Orleans played at one of the fastest paces in the NBA, before ultimately finishing fourth among the 30 teams in that statistic, averaging 103.89 possessions per 48 minutes. Perhaps it should not have been a surprise Wednesday then, when the Pelicans used the No. 13 overall draft pick to select one of college basketball’s fastest players.

Five things to know about New Orleans Pelicans guard Kira Lewis Jr.

5 things to know about Kira Lewis Jr.: Pelicans pick is young, fast, new to New Orleans

What do you know about Kira Lewis Jr.? The New Orleans Pelicans nabbed the speedy Alabama point guard at No. 13 in the 2020 NBA draft.

Why Kira Lewis Jr.? On the Pelicans' lone NBA draft pick, lobs, 'excitement' and speed

With the 13th pick in Wednesday’s draft, the New Orleans Pelicans went with speed. In the lottery, they took Kira Lewis Jr., a lightning-quick point guard from Alabama.

Kira Lewis brings Pelicans added guard depth, more questions about future

The New Orleans Pelicans went into the 2020 NBA Draft with four picks on the board and plenty of questions about what their roster will look like by the end of the night.

Pelicans select University of Alabama point guard Kira Lewis Jr. in first round of 2020 NBA draft

NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Pelicans have selected University of Alabama point guard Kira Lewis Jr. with the No. 13 overall pick in the first round of the 2020 NBA draft.

Pelicans take PG Kira Lewis Jr. with 13th pick, trade 24th pick to Denver

The terms of New Orleans' deal to send the 24th pick to Denver are still unclear, but they are expected to receive a future draft pick.

Kira Lewis goes to the New Orleans Pelicans: Here’s what they’re getting

The first thing Antoine Pettway noticed about Kira Lewis — hell, the first thing everyone notices about Kira Lewis

pelicans-news-around-the-web-11-19-2020

Pelicans News Around the Web (11-19-2020)

Pelicans.com

The New Orleans Pelicans selected Kira (KY-ruh) Lewis Jr. out of the University of Alabama with the 13th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Lewis, 6-3, 165, is coming off a sophomore campaign where he led the Crimson Tide in scoring (18.5 ppg), assists (5.2 apg), steals (1.81 spg) and minutes (37.6 mpg) en route to earning All-SEC First Team honors. In addition to leading Alabama in multiple categories, Lewis’ scoring average ranked fourth in the SEC, while his assist and steal averages both ranked third in the conference.

During his freshman season, the Meridianville, Alabama native became the youngest Division I player during the 2018-19 season at just 17 years old, and averaged 13.5, 2.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists on his way to being named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. In 65 career collegiate games, Lewis averaged 15.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.3 steals, and is one of just two players in program history to record a triple-double.

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Kira Lewis, Jr. Media Availability – November 18, 2020

On playing for New Orleans native Avery Johnson in college:“It was great picking one of the best point guards to ever do it’s – in my opinion – brain. I learned a lot from him…leadership, passes, different pick-and-roll reads. It was great learning from him. He taught me a lot while he was there in his one year with me, so I was very happy that I got the experience with him and it helped me a lot.”

On his comfort level playing in Alabama’s fast-paced offensive system last season:“I felt very comfortable playing as fast as I could, trying to score as fast as I could with pace, get the best shot we could. I felt very comfortable because most of the stuff we do (at Alabama), Coach (Nate Oats) told us it kind of assimilates some of the NBA stuff they run. So just really getting me ready and getting me familiar with it helped me a lot.”

On styling his game after De’Aaron Fox and Lou Williams, and what makes him unique in this draft class:“I’d have to say speed, number one. Being able to score, create for my teammates as well. I feel like what makes me unique is that I feel like I can do pretty much a little bit of everything, whether it’s shoot, pass, dribble, defend a little bit. I feel like I’m kind of overall better than any guard in the draft, so I feel like bringing that to the Pelicans will be a good thing.”

On putting on weight this offseason and if there are other things he’s been working on:“It was a big plus to add weight for the situation I’m going to. What I’m working on when I get there is just coming off, being a better pick-and-roll player, making the right reads, getting my teammates involved, getting better on the defensive end…just coming in and trying to be the most complete player I can be to help the team and the organization.”

On having lunch with the Pelicans and his first impressions of the organization:“It was great, man. It was a laid-back, calm conversation. We laughed and joked. I got to learn them as well as them getting to learn me. I’d have to say that was one of my best workouts. I felt very comfortable. They showed me a lot of things to work on to help me with my game, and I just felt like it was a great overall day with them.”

On some of the things he will continue to work on:“Just making different passes with my left hand, being to play off of two feet, finishing through contact, ball-handling…pretty much just everything a point guard has to do to be very good in this league.”

On what parts of his game he was able to improve the most on from year one to year two at Alabama:“I feel like my ball-handling got better, making better reads, being able to play from slow to fast, adding a Euro to avoid charges. My defense got better. I just got more comfortable from year one to year two in every aspect, whether it was finishing at the rim…but I know I’m going to a more challenging league, so I want to get even better at those things.”

On the fit in New Orleans and his level of comfort coming to the Pelicans:“This is a great fit – just the way they play, the young guys they have, playing in the open floor, wanting to compete. New Orleans is a great city, they love basketball, so I feel like this is a great situation that I’m going into, and I couldn’t be happier.”

On wanting to be in New Orleans:“Like I said, the young core guys, the older guys they have, they mesh well, they compete. They like toget out and run and play above the rim. I just feel like the city is great, they come out and support (theteam), I just feel like it was a great situation for me and I can come in and help them with whatever they[ask of me].”

On if he felt that New Orleans was going to be a destination for him leading up to the draft:“Just talking to [the team], I feel like they liked my game a lot, and then I’d say when the [proposedtrades] happened, it fit well for me to come in and they might need a point guard, or someone tobackup, whatever the case may be. I just feel like from watching what the experts say, I just felt like NewOrleans would be a destination for me to go to, and I feel like it was a great situation and I’m glad thatI’m here.”

On the team’s style of play and roster construction:“I don’t know how we’ll play with (new Head Coach Stan Van Gundy), but from watching last year andyears before, they play freely. They want to get out (in transition) and get easy opportunities, so I don’tknow how we’ll play with Coach Van Gundy coming in, but I feel like maybe that situation will fit us well,maybe we’ll keep playing like that, but I’m pretty sure he’s going to come in with great knowledge ofhow he wants to play, and I know he knows what he’s doing, so I can’t wait to see what that is.”

On his effort on the defensive end:“I wanted to get better defensively from year one to year two in college, just watching a lot of film,getting the upper-hand on your opponent and knowing what his tendencies are as a point guard, andjust being able to anticipate. I feel like that’s one of my biggest components on the defensive end.”

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Transcript: Kira Lewis Jr. 2020 NBA Draft Interview

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Pelicans Draft Interviews: Kira Lewis Jr.'s first interview as a Pelican

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Behind the Scenes Photos: Draft Night with Pelicans Kira Lewis Jr.

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Meet the Pelicans 2020 Draft Picks: Kira Lewis Jr.

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