REPORT: Next Star cleared for return to court

The 2026 NBA Draft hopes of NBL Next Star Malique Lewis have been given a massive boost, after he has been reportedly cleared to play by the NBA’s Fitness-to-Play Panel.

According to DraftExpress’ Jonathan Givony, South East Melbourne Phoenix’s Lewis can now return to on-court activities. This means the forward can resume working out with NBA teams, ahead of this month’s Draft in Brooklyn.

The news comes after a standout performance by the Trinidad and Tobago talent at the 2026 adidas Eurocamp, where Lewis led the tournament in assists per game (4.7) and finished second in rebounds (8), helping guide the Next Stars team to the championship.

In doing so, Lewis, who shot 50 per cent from three-point range and averaged 1.7 steals per game, earned All-EuroCamp honours for the second consecutive year.

The 21-year-old was also one of four players from the Next Stars team, alongside Dash Daniels, Max Mackinnon and Oscar Cluff, to be mentioned as tournament standouts by ESPN's National Director of Recruiting Paul Biancardi.

The Next Stars program has seen six players drafted in the first round across the last six NBA drafts, including LaMelo Ball (2020), Josh Giddey (2021), Ousmane Dieng (2022) and Alex Sarr (2024), all being selected inside the lottery.

‍>> READ MORE: NEXT STARS WIN EUROCAMP TITLE, CLAIM AWARDS