NBA Draft 2020: Kira Lewis chosen No. 13 overall, will team with Zion in New Orleans

The next step in Kira Lewis Jr.’s basketball journey will take him just a few hours from Tuscaloosa  as the New Orleans Pelicans chose him as the No. 13 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

He was the third player from the Southeastern Conference on Wednesday night, joining No. 1 overall pick Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves) and Isaac Okoro of Auburn, the No. 5 overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

LIVE DRAFT TRACKER: Pick-by-pick selections and analysis

The Lewis family, as well as many friends and Alabama head coach Nate Oats and assistant coaches Bryan Hodgson and Antoine Pettway, watched the draft at a viewing party in Hazel Green.

Lewis is the Crimson Tide’s second first-round NBA Draft selection in the last three years, following Colin Sexton, the No. 8 overall selection of the 2018 draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He moved swiftly upwards in mock drafts and projections over the past month as teams conducted Zoom interviews. Alabama coach Nate Oats had called Lewis a player “with no red flags” in terms of character and work ethic.

Lewis finished the 2019-2020 season leading Alabama in scoring (18.5 points per game) and assists (5.2 per game).

Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil@tidesports.com or via Twitter @cecilhurt