Maxwell Lewis Bio
Maxwell Lewis (born July 27, 2002) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for Tofaş of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) in Turkey. Standing 6 feet 7 inches tall and listed at 215 pounds, he plays the small forward position and wears jersey number 21. Lewis gained national attention after being selected with the 40th overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft and went on to win the inaugural NBA Cup championship as a rookie.
After beginning his college career at Pepperdine, Lewis moved through the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets before taking his game overseas. His combination of size, scoring touch, and shot-creating ability has marked him as a developing talent to watch on the international stage.
Early Life and Background
Maxwell Lewis was born on July 27, 2002, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and grew up in the Las Vegas Valley. His father, Robert Lewis, originally from Los Angeles, California, moved to Las Vegas for work and became a coach in local recreational youth basketball leagues. Lewis spent much of his childhood around the game, although he stepped away from organized basketball in elementary school after his father felt that a coach was treating him poorly.
During that break from organized play, Lewis picked up the saxophone and joined his school’s jazz and concert bands, a musical interest he has carried into adulthood. He continued playing pickup basketball and trained with his older brother. A significant growth spurt several years later allowed him to return to competitive play, and he quickly made an impact in a National Junior Basketball League by leading the circuit in scoring.
Path to Basketball
Lewis attended Somerset-Losee in Las Vegas, where he played on the junior varsity team at Mojave High School during his freshman year because Somerset-Losee did not yet field a boys basketball program. When Somerset-Losee introduced a varsity team during his sophomore season in 2017–18, Lewis averaged 28 points and 13 rebounds per game and quickly outgrew the local competition.
Seeking stronger opponents, he transferred to Ed W. Clark High School and reclassified to the class of 2021, but transfer rules forced him to junior varsity once again. He ultimately transferred to AZ Compass Prep in Chandler, Arizona, where he thrived against national competition during his junior year in 2019–20 and earned scholarship offers from high major college programs. He later briefly attended Chameleon BX, a San Francisco preparatory program designed to ready prospects for the NBA draft, before returning to Las Vegas and signing with Pepperdine under head coach Lorenzo Romar.
Maxwell Lewis Career
College Career at Pepperdine (2021–2023)
Lewis joined the Pepperdine Waves in 2021 after losing offers from higher-profile programs during his time away from traditional school competition. He missed his first three games while the NCAA reviewed his eligibility stemming from his time at Chameleon BX. Once cleared, he served as a reserve during his freshman season and averaged 11 points per game before a season-ending wrist injury on February 12, 2022, cut his year short. His freshman play earned him a selection to the West Coast Conference All-Freshman team.
In his sophomore season, Lewis was elevated into the starting lineup and averaged 16.6 points per game, showcasing the scoring and shot creation that had drawn earlier recruiting interest. He was named to the All-WCC Second Team and attracted the attention of NBA executives throughout the year. On March 20, 2023, Lewis announced his decision to declare for the 2023 NBA draft, and he later received an invitation to the NBA Draft Combine.
Los Angeles Lakers Era (2023–2024)
Lewis was selected with the 40th overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets, but his draft rights were traded to the Los Angeles Lakers on draft night. On July 8, 2023, he officially signed with the Lakers and began his rookie season in Los Angeles. During his time with the organization, he was repeatedly assigned to the South Bay Lakers, the franchise’s NBA G League affiliate, in order to gain additional playing time and developmental reps.
On December 9, 2023, Lewis was part of the Lakers roster that won the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament, later known as the NBA Cup, giving him a championship in his first professional season. That triumph provided valuable experience on a big stage and helped establish his presence within the Lakers system heading into his second year.
Brooklyn Nets Era (2024–2025)
On December 29, 2024, Lewis was traded to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a package that included D’Angelo Russell and three future second-round picks, with the Lakers receiving Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton in return. His debut with Brooklyn was delayed after he suffered a fractured left tibia on January 1, 2025, which kept him sidelined for at least four weeks. He returned to action and, on April 3, 2025, made his first career NBA start, recording 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists in a 105–90 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Lewis finished the 2024–25 season with Brooklyn before being waived by the Nets on June 27, 2025. Shortly after, on July 5, 2025, he signed with the Dallas Mavericks for the 2025 NBA Summer League, giving him a fresh opportunity to showcase his skills ahead of his next professional move.
Tofaş Era (2025–Present)
On July 24, 2025, Lewis signed with Tofaş of the Basketbol Süper Ligi, Turkey’s top professional basketball league. The move represented his first professional opportunity outside the United States and came after a year in which injuries and limited minutes made consistent playing time difficult. He joined Tofaş wearing jersey number 21 and slotted in as a small forward.
The BSL offers Lewis a chance to feature more prominently in a starting role while continuing to develop his perimeter scoring and rebounding. His combination of size and shot creation is well suited to the European style, and the change of scenery is intended to help him round out his all-around game.
Notable Events and Milestones
Lewis’s most notable early milestone came on December 9, 2023, when he helped the Los Angeles Lakers win the first-ever NBA Cup. Additional milestones include his first career NBA start on April 3, 2025, with the Brooklyn Nets, and his first professional contract overseas with Tofaş in July 2025.
Maxwell Lewis Career Wins
Lewis has collected a small but meaningful set of accolades during his young career, headlined by an NBA Cup championship in 2023. He also earned recognition at Pepperdine, where he was named to the WCC All-Freshman team in 2022 and to the All-WCC Second Team in 2023 after averaging 16.6 points per game as a sophomore.
NBA Achievements
As a rookie with the Los Angeles Lakers, Lewis won the inaugural NBA Cup championship in December 2023. He later appeared in games for the Brooklyn Nets during the 2024–25 season, including his first career start on April 3, 2025. Following his NBA stint, he signed with Tofaş of the BSL, continuing his professional career overseas.
College Achievements
At Pepperdine, Lewis averaged 11 points per game as a freshman and was named to the WCC All-Freshman team before a wrist injury ended his season. As a sophomore, he became a full-time starter, raised his scoring average to 16.6 points per game, and earned Second-Team All-WCC honors before declaring for the 2023 NBA draft.
Maxwell Lewis Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Maxwell Lewis comes from a family with deep ties to basketball and to the Las Vegas community. His father, Robert Lewis, originally from Los Angeles, California, moved to Las Vegas for work and served as a coach in recreational youth basketball leagues throughout the Las Vegas Valley. Robert’s guidance, including his decision to temporarily pull his son out of organized basketball, shaped Maxwell’s early development and his eventual return to the sport following a major growth spurt.
Lewis also has an older brother with whom he trained during his time away from organized play, helping him maintain his skills and conditioning until he was ready to resume competitive basketball.
Personal Life
Beyond basketball, Lewis is known for his love of music, having studied the saxophone during his school years in Las Vegas and participating in jazz and concert bands at Somerset-Losee. He continues to bring a versatile set of interests to his professional career as he adapts to life overseas with Tofaş.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year has marked a major transition for Maxwell Lewis. He began the year with the Brooklyn Nets after being traded from the Lakers in late December 2024, but a fractured left tibia suffered on January 1, 2025, limited his early contributions. He returned later in the season and made his first career NBA start on April 3, 2025, finishing with 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists against the Minnesota Timberwolves before being waived by the Nets in late June.
Shortly after his release, Lewis signed with the Dallas Mavericks for the 2025 NBA Summer League on July 5, 2025, looking to make an impression in a new setting. Less than three weeks later, on July 24, 2025, he signed with Tofaş of the Basketbol Süper Ligi, embarking on his first professional chapter outside the United States and embracing a featured role in Turkey’s top flight.
Looking ahead, the move to Tofaş offers Lewis a clear path to consistent minutes and the chance to develop his perimeter scoring, rebounding, and defensive versatility. With his combination of size, shot creation, and championship experience from his rookie year, he enters the 2025–26 BSL season as a focal point of Tofaş’s plans and a player to watch as he continues his professional growth overseas.