The final pick of the NFL draft is always referred to as "Mr. Irrelevant." The NBA Draft equivalent is not always such a throwaway pick.
The one that many overlook, often forgotten about, except for one team looking to take a chance on a prospect.
This year's Mr. Irrelevant title goes to Malique Lewis out of Trinidad and Tobago after being taken with the No. 60 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards.
However, through a trade, the pick will go to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Lewis is considered to be a 'three-and-D' player. An area that the Bucks are looking to surround their team with after a blockbuster trade that sent out Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat in exchange for Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware, Kasparas Jakučionis and the No. 13 pick.
Lewis joins a Bucks draft class that includes Brayden Burries (Arizona) and Nate Ament (Tennessee).
Can Malique Lewis become the next Isaiah Thomas?
Truth of the matter is that being Mr. Irrelevant doesn't come with any pressure or expectations. A lot of the time, the player is just happy to have their name called. But that doesn't mean they can't carve out a nice career in the NBA.
The last notable "Mr. Irrelevant" was the Sacramento Kings' No. 60 selection in the 2011 NBA Draft, who selected Isaiah Thomas out of Washington.
Thomas played 14 NBA seasons with the Kings, Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards, New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks and Charlotte Hornets.
In his rookie season in Sacramento, he finished with All-Rookie second team honors and seventh in Rookie of the Year voting. He quickly became a fan favorite for his skill, community presence and 5-foot-9 stature.
Thomas's best season came in 2017 with the Celtics, when he became an All-Star, averaged 28.9 points per game, led the Celtics to a 53-29 record, and finished fifth in MVP voting.
In his 14-year career, Thomas averaged 17.5 points and 4.8 assists in 556 career games.
Lewis isn't expected to become that, by any means. It's all about enjoying the journey. Once the real work begins, surely the Bucks would love for him to develop into half of what Thomas became.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Who is Mr. Irrelevant in NBA Draft? Meet Malique Lewis
