Maxwell Lewis’ Nets debut on Jan. 1 didn’t final lengthy or go nicely, as he was carried off the ground after only one minute with a fractured left tibia.
It took six weeks and a grueling rehab to earn Wednesday’s encore.
Lewis was lastly lively once more within the Nets’ finale earlier than the All-Star break, logging a 27-second cameo close to the top of a 100-96 win over Philadelphia at Barclays Heart.
“I’m just blessed and glad it’s over,” Lewis stated. “Now, I get to at least start what I was starting when it first happened on Jan. 1, just getting back to playing and my routine. It’s great. I’m blessed to be back.”
The Lakers had thought sufficient of Lewis — a 6-fooot-7 ahead — in 2023 to pay the Pacers $4 million to maneuver up seven spots and get him within the second spherical of the draft. He made 34 appearances as a rookie and was largely consigned to the G League this season, however Nets basic supervisor Sean Marks needed the younger wing within the Dorian Finney-Smith deal, taking a flier.
Lewis arrived Dec. 29, however a minute into his New 12 months’s Day debut, proper after hitting a 3-pointer, Lewis went down clutching the again of his left knee.
“When you get hurt in that type of platform, you try to not show the people and the fans what’s really going on. You try to just walk it off. But it was really hard. I thought it was something in the ligament. After getting the MRI, it wasn’t as bad as we thought,” Lewis stated. “Everyone saw me as a first-time impression, all emotional. I didn’t really like that. But they saw me and they know I wanted to really play and be here with the team. They know I really care.”
Lewis missed 20 video games over the subsequent six weeks earlier than returning to observe final week and enjoying vs. the 76ers.
“I’ve never seen nobody come [back] from a broken leg in a month but shout-out to Max Lew. I know he’s glad to be back, and glad to see him back. He’s gonna be good after this break,” Trendon Watford stated.
“It’s great,” stated Jalen Wilson. “We all can see it every day, the work he’s been putting in. He’s been in super early, staying late, working, doing rehab, weights, hitting the gym. It’s hard, and we all see it. We’re all just super proud.”
Lewis is within the second season of a four-year, $7 million deal. However the latter two seasons are workforce choices, with simply $100,000 assured on subsequent 12 months’s $2.2 million wage. He’s seeking to make an impression and stick round.
“I love Brooklyn. The food and the people, it’s just more [real] here than LA, in my opinion. I just like the weather. New scenery, new everything. It’s just great for me,” Lewis stated. “So it’s all working out.”
