On May 13, Beijing time, former Golden State Warriors player Damion Lee, who is also the brother-in-law of Stephen Curry, announced his retirement from professional basketball via social media. “A story full of adversity and comebacks. I am grateful for everything! 15 years flew by, and I appreciate all that basketball has given me. I hope to give back to this sport one day,” he wrote.
The Warriors paid tribute to Lee with a post: “Damion Lee played for the Warriors from 2018 to 2022. He announced his retirement from professional basketball today. We wish him all the best in the future.” Lee briefly played in the Israeli league this season but was released after just three games, averaging only 7 points on 29.2% shooting.
Damion Lee, born on October 21, 1992, is just under 34 years old. He stands at 1.96 meters tall with a 2.05-meter wingspan. His last NBA stint was with the Phoenix Suns in the 2024-25 season, where he appeared in 25 games, averaging 5.8 minutes and 3.3 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game, shooting 36.5% from the field, 24.3% from three, and 95.2% from the free-throw line.
Lee missed the entire 2023-24 season due to a torn meniscus in his right knee. In the 2022-23 season, he played 74 regular-season games for the Suns, including five starts, averaging 20.4 minutes, 8.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists, while shooting 44.2% from the field and an impressive 44.5% from three-point range. His catch-and-shoot three-point percentage that season ranked third in the NBA, behind only Luke Kennard (52.6%) and Jalen Brunson (47.6%). The knee injury significantly impacted his performance, causing a steep decline.
Before entering the NBA, Lee suffered two anterior cruciate ligament tears in his knees. Despite being an undrafted free agent in 2016, he made his NBA debut in the 2017-18 season with the Atlanta Hawks, playing 15 games and averaging 10.7 points in 17 minutes per game. On July 15, 2018, the Warriors signed him to a two-way contract. He married Stephen Curry’s sister, Sydel, on September 1, 2018, which brought him into the spotlight.
During the 2018-19 season with the Warriors, Lee played 32 games, averaging 4.9 points and 2.1 rebounds in 11.7 minutes, shooting 39.7% from three. The following season, with the Warriors struggling with injuries, Lee saw increased playing time, starting 36 of 49 games and averaging 12.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 29 minutes per game, shooting 41.7% from the field and 35.6% from three.
Lee played two more seasons with the Warriors, averaging around 19 minutes per game. He won an NBA championship with the team in 2022 before signing with the Suns. Over his NBA career, Lee played 315 regular-season games (58 starts), averaging 7.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 19.6 minutes per game, with shooting splits of 43.3%, 37.4%, and 88.1%. What memories do you have of Damion Lee?