Lee provides solid depth for Warriors
With the Warriors’ 201920 season officially done, The Chronicle is reviewing how each player fared.
Research suggests that 27 is the heart of an NBA player’s prime. But in late October, when guard Damion Lee turned 27 just three days before the Warriors’ season opener, he was still on a twoway deal — a contract typically reserved for players a year or two removed from college.
A selfdescribed “late bloomer,” Lee — who is married to Stephen Curry’s younger sister, Sydel — had turned down more lucrative offers overseas to spend a second season on a twoway deal with Golden State in hopes of earning enough minutes to carve out his NBA niche. What he didn’t know at the time was that he’d soon be the Warriors’ starting shooting guard.
With Klay Thompson out with a torn left ACL and Alec Burks best off the bench, Lee slid into Golden State’s first unit and emerged as one of its more reliable scorers. By the time the Warriors converted his twoway contract to a standard NBA deal in midJanuary, he had hushed his doubters, scoring at least 20 points in five games and making life difficult for some of the league’s top wings.
Golden State was so high on Lee that it waived center Marquese Chriss, a 22yearold former lottery pick who was just beginning to play up to his draftnight billing, to put Lee on the 15man roster. Though Chriss landed back with the Warriors, he could’ve been poached by another team on the waiver wire.
By averaging 12.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and one steal per game last season, Lee ensured that he won’t have to make another trek to Santa Cruz for an extended stay with Golden State’s G League affiliate. The Warriors believe he can be an eighth or ninth man on a contender.
Though his playing time figures to dip because of a healthy Thompson next season, Lee will be expected to play 15 or so minutes a night, defend multiple positions and knock down open 3pointers.
Thompson hasn’t had a reliable backup for most of his career, and Lee appears ready for the opportunity.
This is quite the breakthrough for someone who spent much of the first three years of his professional career in the G League. As he navigates his prime, Lee is just pleased to no longer have to split his time between the NBA club and its minorleague affiliate.
Offseason outlook: Lee’s contract is nonguaranteed for 202021, which means the Warriors can waive him at any time without being out a dollar. But after being one of Golden State’s more dependable rotation players last season, Lee’s spot on the 15man roster is safe.
The question now is whether Lee can stop hearing that he’s only with the Warriors because he’s Curry’s brotherinlaw. Lee is a solid 3point shooter, aboveaverage rebounder for his position and a willing defender who’d be a welcome backup for almost any franchise.