Sheffield Sharks prepare to tip off as Nick Lewis eyes trophies

Back in 2013, the recently-turned-20-year-old was a rookie as the Sharks won the British Basketball League Trophy.

In two more years, the GB Under-20s international guard established himself as part of the Sharks team, before moving on to London Lions and then returning home to his native Toronto, Canada to start his own business.

But he came back to Sheffield last year and has signed on for a second season in his second stint with the club with one goal in mind – silverware.

Whether that be the BBL Cup which kicks the season off on Friday, the Championship, another Trophy or the play-off title, Lewis is just determined to help Sheffield win their first pot since 2016.

“That BBL Trophy of 2013 is the only silverware I’ve got so I’m on the hunt for some more,” said Lewis, now 27.

“We’ve got guys like (captain) Mike Tuck on the team, like coach Atiba Lyons, who have won trophies. I’m just trying to help put the pieces of the puzzle together so we can compete again this year.

“You want guys that have experienced it, especially within this league, and if we work hard they can lead us down the right path.”

Lewis was one of the first players to commit to Sheffield for the 2020-21 campaign, way back in mid-July when nobody knew if a season would get going.

It was only confirmed in the middle of October that the BBL would recommence following a Government rescue package.

“I bet the whole league is relieved it’s going ahead,” said Lewis, who averaged 15 points last season. “At the beginning of pre-season we didn’t know if we were going to get going so to know now for real that we’re going to get going, that’s a big relief and a huge incentive.”

The task ahead is to hit the ground running, with Lyons having assembled a roster of experienced BBL operators, home-grown players and North America imports.

“We’re looking good this year, we’ve got a lot of talent on the team, a lot of athleticism,” added Lewis. “It’s good that we have had a long pre-season, now we’re just fine-tuning things before the season begins and seeing where we’re going to end.”

BBL chairman Sir Rodney Walker said of the bailout: “We extend thanks to (Secretary of State) Oliver Dowden, (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Sport, Heritage and Tourism) Nigel Huddleston and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport for their swift response in the wake of the decision to not allow fans back into sports venues.”