‘I don’t have any regrets’ – Malique Lewis’s Next Star Journey
February 24, 2025
Malique Lewis
- Nationality: TTO
- Date of Birth: 10/11/04
- Place of Birth: Bamako (Trinidad and Tobago)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 203
- Weight (KG): 88
- Junior Assoc:
- College:
- NBL DEBUT: 20/09/24
- AGE AT DEBUT: 19
- LAST NBL GAME: 8/02/25
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 20
- NBL History: South East Melbourne 2025
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Malique Lewis was born in Bamako (Trinidad and Tobago) and moved to Spain with his family in 2019. There, he began playing basketball as a junior with Basket Torrejón.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Malique Lewis made his NBL debut with the South East Melbourne Phoenix at 19 years of age. He scored four points in his first game.
South East Melbourne Phoenix secured a promising addition to their roster for NBL25, signing Malique Lewis through the Next Stars program. With the signing, Lewis became the first player from Trinidad and Tobago to join the program, marking a historic milestone for the league. The 6’8” wing arrived with a reputation as an exciting two-way prospect with elite athleticism and defensive potential.
NBL General Manager of Next Stars Recruitment, Liam Santamaria, expressed his enthusiasm about Lewis’ signing, highlighting his unique blend of size, speed, and skill. “Malique is a player that possesses tremendous upside. He has a unique combination of elite physical tools, a versatile skillset, and youth, making him a very exciting prospect,” Santamaria said. “He possesses high-level defensive instincts, and his length, speed, and athleticism make him a disruptive and impactful defender. Offensively, Malique has a prototypical skillset for a modern NBA three-and-D wing, with his ability to run the floor, get above the rim, and knock it down from long range.”
Malique's very best
Sit back and enjoy the best plays from Malique Lewis so far!@SEMelbPhoenix pic.twitter.com/NXK1ybze4f
— NBL Next Stars (@NBLNextStars) November 19, 2024
“This is an amazing opportunity for me,” Lewis said. “I know the NBL is one of the best development leagues in the world, and I’m excited to show what I can do while continuing to grow my game. Phoenix felt like the right fit, and I’m ready to compete.”
Throughout the regular season, Lewis displayed flashes of his potential, particularly on the defensive end, where his length and instincts made him a key disruptor. Offensively, he showcased his ability to stretch the floor, attacking in transition and providing floor spacing. He finished the season shooting 42% from the field, 30% from three-point territory on 88 attempts, and 68% from the free-throw line on 51 attempts.
Malique Lewis currently plays for the South East Melbourne Phoenix and has played 29 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists since entering the league in 2024.
CURRENT CONTRACT:
South East Melbourne Phoenix – 2 Year Deal (2024-26)
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 20 | South East Melbourne | 16-13 (4) | 29 | 323.0 | 204 | 119 | 32 | 90 | 29 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 52 | 72 | 169 | 43% | 25 | 85 | 29% | 35 | 51 | 69% | 53% | 50% | 15 |
| Totals | 29 | 323 | 204 | 119 | 32 | 90 | 29 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 52 | 72 | 169 | 42.6% | 25 | 85 | 29.4% | 35 | 51 | 68.6% | 53% | 50% | 15 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 20 | South East Melbourne | 16-13 (4) | 29 | 11.1 | 7.0 | 4.1 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 5.8 | 43% | 0.9 | 2.9 | 29% | 1.2 | 1.8 | 69% | 53% | 50% | 15 |
| Total | 29 | 11.1 | 7.0 | 4.1 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 5.8 | 42.6% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 29.4% | 0.9 | 2.9 | 68.6% | 53% | 50% | 15 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
NBA EXPERIENCE
Lewis spent the 2023/24 season in the NBA G League, playing for Mexico City Capitanes, where he featured in 50 games, averaging 8.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and shooting 34.4% from three-point range.
His time in the G League provided valuable experience, allowing him to compete against NBA-level athletes while refining his game in a professional setting. However, Lewis opted to take the Next Stars route in pursuit of further development, believing that the NBL’s physicality and structured environment would better prepare him for the next level.
On June 28, 2023, the Capitanes acquired the rights to Malique Lewis with the first overall selection in the 2023/24 NBA G League International Draft.
During his season with Mexico City, Lewis averaged 8.0 points and 6.0 rebounds in 25 minutes per game, showcasing his ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor.
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 56% | 60% | 52% | 81% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 3 | ||||||
| Total | 72 | 169 | 42.6% | 25 | 85 | 29.4% |
NBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 20 | South East Melbourne | 8-9 (6) | 17 | 15.0 | 137 | 81 | 23 | 63 | 18 | 8 | 13 | 11 | 32 | 48 | 105 | 46% | 16 | 56 | 29% | 25 | 35 | 71% | 56% | 53% | 15 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Spain - Baloncesto Fuenlabrada (2021-2023)
Lewis moved to Spain at 16 years old, joining the Baloncesto Fuenlabrada youth system, where he developed from a limited role in 2021/22 to playing nearly 18 minutes per game in 2022/23, averaging 4.8 points and 3.5 rebounds.
During the 2021/22 season, Lewis played for Fuenlabrada’s Liga EBA team while also training with the Liga Endesa first team. His dedication and development earned him an opportunity at the highest level, as he made his Endesa League debut on December 12, 2021, at just 17 years old, seeing 50 seconds of court time in Fuenlabrada’s 85-74 victory over Casademont Zaragoza.
Lewis would go on to appear in two more Liga Endesa games during the season, gaining valuable experience at Spain’s top level.
The following season, Lewis flashed his enormous upside, delivering one of the most impressive performances by a young player in ACB history. He recorded 24 points against Obradoiro, marking the fourth-highest scoring game ever by a player aged 18 or younger in the league’s history.
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