Damion Lee thriving in new role in Phoenix, reflects on championship
past with Warriors in town
Damion Lee played his former team for the first of four times Tuesday in
Phoenix.
>Phoenix Suns guard Damion Lee goes up for a shot against the Dallas
Mavericks during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix,
Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022. The Suns won 107-105. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
By MADELINE KENNEY | mkenney@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: October 25, 2022 at 7:05 p.m. | UPDATED: October 25, 2022 at
7:15 p.m.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2022/10/25/damion-lee-thriving-in-new-role-in-phoenix-reflects-on-championship-past-with-warriors-in-town/

PHOENIX — Andre Iguodala was one of the many Warriors players and staff
members who caught up with Damion Lee Tuesday night during warmups on
the ex-Warriors reserve’s new turf.

But once the game started, Lee was focused on getting a win.

Tuesday was the first of four times Lee is set to play his former team
in the regular season.

After shootaround, Lee told reporters he was “excited” to play the
Warriors, with whom he won a championship this summer. But he didn’t
want to make the game about him. He said to save those questions for the
Jan. 10 game at Chase Center when he’s expected to get his glitzy
championship ring.

“That will probably be the more emotional one, being back in Golden
State for the first time in a long time,” Lee said.

There’s no one in particular Lee was looking forward to guarding.

“I just want to get the win to be honest,” he said.

Lee had a storybook ending to his four-year tenure with Golden State,
finishing it by parading down Market Street.

But when the post-championship party died down, Lee knew his future with
the Warriors was likely coming to an end.

News broke about an hour after Lee threw out the first pitch at the
Giants-White Sox game at Oracle Park that the former Warriors reserve
was heading to Phoenix for the 2022-23 season.

After spending the last four years in Northern California, Lee agreed to
a one-year deal to join the title-contending Suns, who are his third NBA
team. He averaged 7.4 points and 3.2 rebounds in 19.9 minutes in 63
games (five starts) last season. He averaged two points per game while
shooting 38.2% from the field and 25% from 3-point range in 16
postseason games.

“Guys were extremely supportive of my decision, excited for me to have
the opportunity to play here in Phoenix,” Lee recalled. “Just excited
for me and my future.”

Lee is carving out a nice spot for himself in Phoenix, where he’s
emerged as a reliable role player. He scored 11 fourth-quarter points in
the Suns’ season-opening win against the Luka Doncic-led Dallas
Mavericks. That included a tough game-winning shot over Spencer Dinwiddie.

Lee’s former teammates were thrilled to see the 30-year-old guard hit
the shot and secure the Suns’ first victory of the season. In fact,
Lee’s brother-in-law, Steph Curry, woke up his 4-year-old son while
celebrating the basket.

Lee returned the love Tuesday, gushing about 7-foot center James
Wiseman, who’s finally healthy after missing all of last season with a
knee injury.

“James has overall talent. He has everything in his bag,” Lee said. “I’m
just happy for him because he’s back. Knowing the injuries, knowing what
it took to come back from injuries, having so much pressure, really it’s
outside pressure, but just excited for him that he’s back, that he’s
fully healthy.”