NBA Draft Scouting Report: Pepperdine's Maxwell Lewis
Maxwell Lewis
Wing | Pepperdine
Height: 6'7” | Weight: 195 lbs
2023 Draft Age: 20.91
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Prospect Profile
Lewis certainly has the upside to be more than a 3-and-D prospect, but at minimum if he can continue to knock down triples and be a versatile defender, he will have a spot in the NBA.
As a freshman, he was a solid 3-point shooter and even showcased the ability to make more advanced looks. The efficiency from deep went down in year two, but he was also the primary focus of opposing defenses and didn't have as many easy looks. His shot mechanics are slower than they’ll need to be at the next level, as he brings the ball down while loading up. Nonetheless, it’s a pretty shot that goes in at a good clip.
Lewis is also a strong driver, leveraging his strength and finishing power to get to the rim. He might not be lightning quick, but he’s patient with the ball in his hands while taking it to the rack. Surveying the floor for the right opportunity comes natural to the Pepperdine prospect and he has good change of speed in the midrange area.
With the ball in his hands, Lewis loves using pump fakes and jabs to get his defender off balance before taking them to the cup or pulling up. He can score on the move and has also been willing to post up smaller defenders.
As it relates to improvement, Lewis takes more difficult shot than he needs to sometimes. While he’s a good positional passer, he can also be turnover prone. He’s better as a situational facilitator than a full-time offensive lead. His assist numbers more than doubled from his freshman to sophomore year, but the turnovers also increased.
On the flip side, he does have the ability to bring the ball up the court and has point forward upside. He’s also an efficient rebounder and has two-way impact.
Defensively, Lewis uses his length to block shots and generate deflections. He can be effective taking on guards or modern forwards, but has shown to sometimes lack the lateral quickness to stay in front of some players. He often makes up for that with his length and body control, but that’s certainly an area he can improve.
The baseline or floor for Lewis seems relatively high, it will just come down to how close he can get to his ceiling. The 6-foot-7 wing feels like a safe draft pick either way, assuming he has another good college season.
Growing up in a family full of athletes, playing at this level is nothing new for Lewis. He actually decided to forgo his senior year of high school to train for the 2021 NBA Draft, then ultimately ended up going the college route.
In his freshman season, he missed the first six games of the season waiting on NCAA eligibility, then the last five contests of the year with a wrist injury. On a larger sample size and increased role as a sophomore, his draft stock has really gone up. He was one of the more impressive prospects at the college level this season.
After a WCC All-Freshman team nod, he earned All-WCC honors this season. While Lewis looked like a potential lottery pick early in the season, his numbers did fall off some later into the season. Nonetheless, it would be surprising if he didn't get taken in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft.
Highlights
Draft Projection
Mid to Late First-Round Pick in 2023 NBA Draft.
2023 Big Board
Want to know more about other potential 2023 NBA Draft prospects and where they might get selected? Check out our Draft Digest Pro Big Board.
Want to join the discussion? Like Draft Digest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest NBA Draft news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.
For a free account and access to Cerebro Sports, the largest Basketball Player Database in the world, sign up here.