Confidence the difference for Taipans star

Malique Lewis owns the fact that he didn’t make the most of his two seasons at the South East Melbourne Phoenix. Now with the Cairns Taipans, he says he has found the “confidence” that was missing.

It’s been a big few months for the former Next Star. In June, he was selected with pick 60 at the NBA Draft, landing with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Lewis and the Bucks then agreed that a return to the NBL was the best way to keep developing, with Cairns his new home.

The numbers show his rise. Through 7 games with the Taipans, Lewis is averaging 10.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 blocks in 30.2 minutes a night. That’s a big jump from his 6.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2 assists in 21 minutes with the Phoenix last season.

He’s doing it more efficiently, too. He’s shooting 57.1 per cent from the field, up from 45.5 per cent a year ago, and 87.5 per cent from the free throw line.

“I know I used to shy away a lot. There’s only so many tries Josh can give you before he’s like, ‘OK, if you don’t want to do it, then we’ll find someone else’,” Lewis told CODE Sports of his time under Phoenix coach Josh King.

“Coach [Adam Forde] puts me in great spots to showcase what I’ve been working on for the past couple of years, and that’s not saying that Josh didn’t, but that’s where the confidence part comes in.

“Now, I feel I’m more confident, a lot more vocal, I’ve put in the work and, now Fordey’s giving me that opportunity, I’m taking it.”

Lewis gets the chance to show his old club how far he has come on Saturday night, when the Taipans take on the Phoenix at John Cain Arena, live on ESPN, 9Go! and 9Now from 5:30pm AEDT.

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