Maxwell Lewis has long been a locker-room favorite. Now, it’s starting to show.

Over Maxwell Lewis’ two breakout games, you’ve likely noticed the Brooklyn Nets going crazy for him on the bench. That’s no coincidence, say his teammates.

You learn a lot about a player from their teammates.

When Maxwell Lewis checked into Saturday’s home game against the Boston Celtics and immediately scored eight straight points, Brooklyn’s bench erupted. The reactions rapidly progressed from a widespread hell yeah to Day’Ron Sharpe’s fantastic are you guys seeing this smile, just in the first quarter of a tie game…

This was the first consequential action of Lewis’ Nets career, so although fans are still learning his game, they also have a clear a window into his personality.

“He shows up, he works every day, works hard,” said Cam Johnson, after Lewis put in another strong performance on Sunday. “He’s just a funny guy overall, too. He’s become like, known throughout the team as just bringing that fun energy, sometimes a little crazy at times, but we love it and we love him for it. And, you know, seeing his success on the court, you could see how excited everybody got.”

There were glimpses. During Brooklyn’s last-second comeback against the Houston Rockets on February 4, where they scored six points in five seconds to steal a victory, Lewis was spotted on the bench, in street clothes but going wild nonetheless…

That was after he had suffered a seemingly horrific injury in his Brooklyn debut on New Year’s Day, when he checked in during garbage time, hit a 3-pointer, and then fractured his tibia running back on defense.

Johnson says that never affected his spirit: “It’s not easy. First time being traded, first game he plays with us, hits a three and gets hurt on the same play. So now: You just get traded, out a month. And you don’t complain.”

When teammates and Head Coach Jordi Fernández discuss Lewis, that’s the through-line. Before they inevitably compliment his energy, they start with his work ethic.

D’Angelo Russell, who was traded to Brooklyn alongside Maxwell Lewis, explained why: “I think as a young player in the league, if you don’t have the work ethic, you know, you kind of get stereotyped as a guy that may be too fun, too crazy. But if you got the work ethic, I think it’s easy for you to just fall into being who you are. Max is a guy that doesn’t shy away from who he is. He’s definitely a fun dude. He brings that energy. He’s the guy that everybody wants to see do well on the team.”

Right now, the Nets players are seeing their beloved teammate do well. Lewis had never played double-digit minutes in an NBA game, prior to the weekend back-to-back. Then, in a combined 38 minutes on Saturday and Sunday, he scored 25 points on 10-of-14 shooting, making five triples.

Naturally, Fernández was full of praise after Sunday’s victory over the Hawks, where Brooklyn dominated the sophomore’s minutes: “Max has been unbelievable in those last two games, and what he gave the team, +17, ten points, just doing the right things. So, happy for him again.”

There are likely more opportunities coming for Lewis. His burst onto the scene came against two Eastern Conference playoff teams, buoyed by 3-point shooting and positional size, having put on quite a bit of muscle since his time at Pepperdine University…

After Sunday’s victory and his strong performance, he was clear about his long-term intentions: “I feel like I belong in the league, so it felt good to me. It doesn’t feel like — I just feel normal.”

For Maxwell Lewis, “normal” means excitable, engaged, and evidently, motivated. He knows consistency isn’t guaranteed — calling it potentially his “biggest problem” — but you don’t just luck into two strong performances in the NBA. It’s not just his work ethic or his jubilant personality, but the combination that’s suddenly made him a player to watch over Brooklyn’s final 14 games of the season.

“His energy is contagious, and you can tell his teammates on the bench — anytime he does anything, they celebrate. And that’s the most important thing.” — Jordi Fernández.