New York Knicks shooting guard Courtney Lee missed the entire preseason with a neck injury, but he practiced at full speed Sunday and is ready for the regular season to start. Lee is not sure what his role is going to be on this young Knicks team. After starting 69 games last season, there's a strong possibility Lee will come off the bench this year.
Lee has two years and $25 million left on his contract. The 33-year-old signed a four-year, $48 million free agent deal with the Knicks in 2016. In 76 regular-season games last year, he posted averages of 12.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game while shooting 45.4 percent from the field, 40.6 percent from beyond the arc and 91.9 percent from the free-throw line. The 10-year veteran is going to be a good teammate and mentor his youngsters instead of pouting if his number isn't called.
“My role coming in is not what’s guaranteed to me, what have I earned in the past,” Courtney Lee said, via Chris Iseman of North Jersey. “It's what can I do to help this team? That goes for starting, coming off the bench, playing 10 minutes, not playing at all. …So it’s whatever the team needs me to do, that’s my role.
“I missed the whole preseason, so it wouldn’t be one of those things that if I didn’t play I’d be bitter about it. It’s just being smart and cautious of the injury that I did have. If he does throw me out there I’ll be ready.”
Lee's name came up in trade rumors this summer, but no deal ever transpired. In 753 games in the NBA, Lee has career averages of 10.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.
Follow Us
Subscribe