T&T Malique Lewis top NBA G-League International Draft Pick

Trinidad and Tobago 6-8 forward Malique Lewis was chosen in the 2023 G-League International Draft at number one by Capitanes Ciudad de México on June 28.

After an untimely negotiating process, Malique was finally able to join his new team this month. FIBA recently approved his Legal Letter of Clearance following ongoing discussions between both teams and his agent.

Malique Lewis, born 10 November 2004, hails from Roy Joseph Housing Scheme in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago. He lived with his mother with supported by his grandfather and last attended Pleasantville Secondary School in his hometown.

Coach Harris, who also teaches, first saw Lewis during lunch break playing basketball with his friends and was impressed with the potential talent for such a young player. Harris immediate invited him to his training session on that Friday, with NO EXCUSES allowed. Harris helped him as much as he could, emotionally and financially. After a few months developing a strong foundation with him, Harris reached out to two fellow coaches, Mario Davis and Johnathan Weekes of The Lab Skills Training. They assisted with Lewis migrating to Torrejon Basketball Academy in Spain, just before the Coronavirus pandemic in November 2019.

At Torrejon Basketball Academy, Lewis continued his basketball development as predicated by Coach Harris. After a full season and a half at the age of sixteen, he secured a professional contract with Baloncesto Fuenlabrada based in Madrid and which plays in Spain Tier1 League, Liga Endesa. At age of seventeen, Lewis played both with Fuenlabrada U18 and Senior teams. He is the youngest basketball player from Trinidad and Tobago to secure a professional contract.

On 29 June 2023, NBA Scouting Live reported that Malique Lewis is an athletic, energetic swingman that was selected first overall of the 2023 NBA G League International Draft. This is an impressive assessment of Lewis who at the youthful age of seventeen began his professional career with Urbas Fuenlabrada in the Endesa ACB League, the 2nd best domestic league in the world after the NBA. On May 23, Lewis set his career high 23pts, 7rebs, 3asts, 3stls & 1blk in a road loss against Obradoiro, 102-72. He shot 6/11 form from two, 1/6 from three, shooting at 41.2% from the field and 9/10 from the free-throw line. He ended the game with a 25 efficiency score.

The players selected in G-League International Draft are all NBA Draft-eligible prospects, with the ability to declare for the NBA Draft ranging in time from 2024 through 2026.

Coach Harris believed that Malique surpassed all expectation, and pushed the boundaries of his talent of basketball, humble personality and discipline. He confirmed that offers came for him to change team but he never did. They believe he needed more work and was not ready mentally.

Harris continued that at age eighteen, Lewis stats and highlights were mind blowing to the point where his plays start making it to the Top 10 in the Spanish ACB Pro League. Lewis established himself as a fan favorite with Fuenlabrada.

Fellow Trinidad and Tobago national 6-7 wing Zeke Moore may team up with Lewis as Capitanes recently acquired his rights from OKC Blue in exchange for 6-10 forward Norvel Pelle.