Courtney Lee (born October 3, 1985) is an American former professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

player. He played

college basketball College basketball is basketball that is played by teams of Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. In the Higher education in the United States, United States, colleges and universities are governed by collegiate athle ...

for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Lee was selected by the

Orlando Magic The Orlando Magic are an American professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. The Magic compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NB ...

with the 22nd overall pick in the

2008 NBA draft The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2008, at the The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this NBA draft, draft, National Basketball Association (NBA) teams took t ...

and was traded in June 2009 to the

New Jersey Nets New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 ** "New" (Paul McCartney song), 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, 1995 * "New" (Daya song), 2017 * "New" (No Doubt song), 1 ...

. In August 2010, he was traded to the

Houston Rockets The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston. The Rockets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA) ...

. In July 2012, Lee was dealt to the

Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics ( ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), ...

. He was traded to the

Memphis Grizzlies The Memphis Grizzlies (referred to locally as the Grizz) are an American professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Grizzlies compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division of the ...

in January 2014 before being dealt to the

Charlotte Hornets The Charlotte Hornets are an American professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Hornets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. The team ...

in February 2016. In July, Lee signed with the

New York Knicks The New York Knickerbockers, shortened and more commonly referred to as the New York Knicks, are an American professional basketball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the Na ...

, where he spent three seasons before being traded to the

Dallas Mavericks The Dallas Mavericks (often referred to as the Mavs) are an American professional basketball team based in Dallas. The Mavericks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Divisi ...

in January 2019.

Early life

Lee was born in

Indianapolis Indianapolis ( ), colloquially known as Indy, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Indiana, most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana, Marion ...

Indiana Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the s ...

High school career

Lee attended Pike High School in Indianapolis and played on their Indiana 4A state championship winning team in 2003. He starred for the Indy Hornets AAU team, winning several state championships and annually placing high at the AAU nationals. Considered a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Lee was listed as the No. 34 shooting guard in the nation in 2004.

College career

In 2004, Lee was recruited by former Western Kentucky assistant coach

William Small William Small (1734–1775) was a Scottish physician and a professor of natural philosophy at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. There he became an influential mentor of Thomas Jefferson, who went on to be a leading p ...

to play for the Hilltoppers. In his first season, Lee set a WKU record for freshman scoring with 461 points in 31 games. He was named First Team All-Sun Belt Conference for three consecutive seasons (2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08). As a senior at WKU, Lee was named Sun Belt Player of the Year. He also helped lead the Hilltoppers to a Sweet 16 appearance in the 2008 NCAA Tournament while being ranked 28th nationally in scoring with 20.4 points per game. On January 27, 2008, Lee recorded a career high 33 points in a 77–68 win over Arkansas State. Lee finished his collegiate career tied with Jim McDaniels for all-time leading scorer at WKU, with 2,238 points. During his four-year career at WKU, he started 127 games, played an overall 3,957 minutes, made 82% of free throws, made 245 three-point shots, had 242 steals, 281 assists and 78 blocked shots. On January 10, 2015, it was announced that Lee's jersey would be retired by the Hilltoppers. Lee's tattoo on his arm reads "R.I.P. Danny Rumph" dedicated to his WKU teammate who died in May 2005 from an enlarged heart after hitting a game winning shot in a pick-up game in his hometown, Philadelphia.

Professional career

Orlando Magic (2008–2009)

Lee was drafted 22nd overall by the

in the

. On February 4, 2009, Lee posted season-high numbers against the

Los Angeles Clippers The Los Angeles Clippers are an American professional basketball team based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Clippers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. The ...

. He finished the night with 21 points, including 9-of-10 field goals while making three 3-pointers. Then on March 23, 2009, in a game against the

Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as the Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh and Eighth Avenue (Manhattan), Eig ...

, Lee set a then-career high with 22 points. He made two critical free throws late in the fourth quarter to secure a comeback win for the Magic. Lee finished 6–8 from the field, 2–3 from behind the three-point line, and 8–8 from the free throw line. During the Magic's first round

NBA playoff The NBA playoffs is the annual postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association (NBA) held to determine the league champion. Since 1949, the four-round, best-of-seven tournament is held after the league's regular season and its pr ...

series against the

Philadelphia 76ers The Philadelphia 76ers, also known colloquially as the Sixers, are an American professional basketball team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The 76ers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlan ...

, Lee scored 18 points in game 1 and a team-high 24 points in game 2, helping the team tie the series at 1–1. On April 28, 2009, Lee was hit in the face by

Dwight Howard Dwight David Howard II (born December 8, 1985) is an American former professional basketball player. Nicknamed "Superman" for his athletic prowess, he is an NBA champion, eight-time All-Star, eight-time All-NBA Team honoree, five-time All-Defen ...

during Game 5 of the Magic's first round playoff series, suffering a fractured sinus. The following day it was announced that he would miss Game 6 of the series due to the injury. He then returned for the second round matchup against the

but he was forced to wear a protective mask over his face for the remainder of the postseason. In Game 2 of the

2009 NBA Finals The 2009 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2008–09 season and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. A best-of-seven playoff series starting on June 4 and concluding on June 14, 2009, ...

, Lee missed a potential game-winning layup with 0.6 seconds remaining on the shot-clock at the end of regulation that would have evened the series at 1–1.

New Jersey Nets (2009–2010)

After spending his rookie year with the

, Lee was traded on June 25, 2009, along with

Rafer Alston Rafer Jamel Alston (born July 24, 1976), nicknamed "Skip 2 My Lou" after the American folk song and partner-stealing dance with the same name, is an American retired professional basketball player. Alston first gained basketball fame as a street ...

and

Tony Battie Demetrius Antonio Battie (born February 11, 1976) is an American former professional basketball player. He works as an analyst for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). High school and college career Battie attended ...

, to the

for future teammate

Vince Carter Vincent Lamar Carter Jr. (born January 26, 1977) is an American former professional basketball player who played for 22 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He primarily played the shooting guard and small forward positions, b ...

and Ryan Anderson. During the 2009–10 season, Lee led the Nets in steals (93), three-point shots made (76), and free throw percentage (86.9%). On March 8, 2010, he recorded a career high 30 points in a 107–101 loss to the

Houston Rockets (2010–2012)

On August 11, 2010, Lee was traded to the

in a four-team, five-player trade in which the Rockets sent

Trevor Ariza Trevor Anthony Ariza (born June 30, 1985) is an American former professional basketball player who spent 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). A small forward, Ariza played college basketball for one season with the UCLA Bruins ...

to the

New Orleans Hornets New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 ** "New" (Paul McCartney song), 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, 1995 * "New" (Daya song), 2017 * "New" (No Doubt song), 1 ...

. He was officially introduced by the Rockets on August 18, 2010.

Boston Celtics (2012–2014)

On July 20, 2012, Lee was traded to the

in a three team sign and trade deal involving the

and

Portland Trail Blazers The Portland Trail Blazers (colloquially known as the Blazers) are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. The Trail Blazers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division (N ...

. Lee agreed to a 4-year, $21.5 million deal with Boston. He had a fine start to the 2013–14 season hitting around 50 percent of his 3-point attempts under new coach

Brad Stevens Bradley Kent Stevens (born October 22, 1976) is an American basketball executive and former coach who is currently the president of basketball operations and de facto general manager for the Boston Celtics. Born and raised in Zionsville, Indian ...

Memphis Grizzlies (2014–2016)

On January 7, 2014, a three-team trade was completed between the Celtics, the

, and the

Oklahoma City Thunder The Oklahoma City Thunder are an American professional basketball team based in Oklahoma City. The Thunder compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division (NBA), Northwest Division of the Western Confer ...

. Boston traded Lee and a 2016 second round draft pick to Memphis for in exchange for the Grizzlies' Jerryd Bayless and the Thunder's Ryan Gomes. On January 14, Lee led Memphis to a 90–87 win over the

, with a season-high and team-leading 24 points, two of which were win-securing

free throws In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points by shooting from behind the free-throw line (informally known as the foul line or the charity stripe), a line situated at the end of the Key (basketball), restricted ...

to end the game.

Charlotte Hornets (2016)

On February 16, 2016, the Grizzlies traded Lee to the

in a three-team trade also involving the

Miami Heat The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern C ...

. Five days later, he made his debut and first start with the Hornets in a 104–96 win over the Brooklyn Nets, recording five points, one rebound and one assist in 21 minutes.

New York Knicks (2016–2019)

On July 8, 2016, Lee signed with the

. Prior to the start of the 2017–18 season, Lee was named co-captain of the Knicks alongside Lance Thomas. On January 15, 2018, in a 119–104 win over the

Brooklyn Nets The Brooklyn Nets are an American professional basketball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Brooklyn. The Nets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), ...

, Lee made his 44th straight free throw on a third-quarter technical, tying the Knicks' record set by Chris Duhon in 2008–09. Lee came into the game leading the league at 96.1 percent after hitting 73 of 76. Two days later, he converted a free throw in the second quarter of the Knicks' 105–99 loss to the

—his 45th straight, setting a franchise record. In December 2018, he played a game with the Knicks'

NBA G League The NBA G League, or simply the G League, is a professional basketball league in North America that serves as the Minor league#Basketball, developmental league of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The league comprises 31 teams; as of ...

affiliate, the

Westchester Knicks The Westchester Knicks are an American professional basketball team in the NBA G League based in White Plains, New York, and are affiliated with the New York Knicks. The Knicks play their home games at Westchester County Center in White Plains, N ...

Dallas Mavericks (2019–2020)

On January 31, 2019, Lee was traded, along with

Trey Burke Alfonso Clark "Trey" Burke III (born November 12, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for Leones de Ponce of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). He played college basketball for the Michigan Wolverines where in the 2012–1 ...

, Tim Hardaway Jr. and

Kristaps Porziņģis Kristaps Porziņģis (; born 2 August 1995) is a Latvian professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "The Unicorn" for his ability to make plays and shoot 3-pointers as a Center ...

, to the

in exchange for

DeAndre Jordan Hyland DeAndre Jordan Jr. (born July 21, 1988) is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played one season of college basketball for the Texas A&M Aggies men's basketball ...

, Wesley Matthews, Dennis Smith Jr. and two future first-round draft picks. On June 22, 2020, the

announced that Lee suffered a left calf injury during the NBA hiatus. After becoming a free agent after the season, he was re-signed on December 11, 2020, but was waived after training camp. Lee retired on June 21, 2021.

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

, - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Orlando Orlando commonly refers to: * Orlando, Florida, a city in the United States Orlando may also refer to: People * Orlando (given name), a masculine name, includes a list of people with the name * Orlando (surname), includes a list of people wit ...

, 77 , , 42 , , 25.2 , , .450 , , .404 , , .830 , , 2.3 , , 1.2 , , 1.0 , , .2 , , 8.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

, 71 , , 66 , , 33.5 , , .436 , , .338 , , .869 , , 3.5 , , 1.7 , , 1.3 , , .3 , , 12.5 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Houston Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...

, 81 , , 1 , , 21.3, , .439 , , .408 , , .792 , , 2.6 , , 1.2 , , .7 , , .2 , , 8.3 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 58 , , 26 , , 30.3 , , .433 , , .401 , , .826 , , 2.7 , , 1.5 , , 1.2 , , .4 , , 11.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, 78 , , 39 , , 24.9 , , .464 , , .372 , , .861 , , 2.4 , , 1.8 , , 1.1 , , .3 , , 7.8 , - , style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2, , style="text-align:left;",

, 30 , , 0 , , 16.8 , , .492 , , .442 , , .818 , , 1.6 , , 1.1 , , .7 , , .3 , , 7.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", Memphis , 49 , , 47 , , 30.0 , , .476 , , .345 , , .884 , , 2.8 , , 1.7 , , .9 , , .4 , , 11.0 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Memphis , 77 , , 74 , , 30.6 , , .448 , , .402 , , .860 , , 2.3 , , 2.0 , , 1.0 , , .2 , , 10.1 , - , style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2, , style="text-align:left;", Memphis , 51 , , 37 , , 29.2 , , .458 , , .370 , , .826 , , 2.3 , , 1.5 , , 1.0 , , .3 , , 10.0 , - , style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 28 , , 28 , , 30.2 , , .445 , , .392 , , .885 , , 3.1 , , 2.1 , , 1.2 , , .4 , , 8.9 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

, 77 , , 74 , , 31.9 , , .456 , , .401 , , .867 , , 3.4 , , 2.3 , , 1.1 , , .3 , , 10.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 76 , , 69 , , 30.4 , , .454 , , .406 , , .919 , , 2.9 , , 2.4 , , 1.1 , , .2 , , 12.0 , - , style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2, , style="text-align:left;",

, 12 , , 2 , , 13.3 , , .447 , , .313 , , .643 , , 2.3 , , 1.3 , , .7 , , .2 , , 4.7 , - , style="text-align:left;",

Dallas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

, 22 , , 4 , , 12.2 , , .390 , , .282 , , .714 , , 1.2 , , 1.0 , , .6 , , .0 , , 3.6 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 24 , , 9 , , 14.4 , , .488 , , .447 , , .857 , , 1.3 , , .5 , , .8 , , .3 , , 4.5 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 811 , , 518 , , 27.1 , , .451 , , .388 , , .853 , , 2.6 , , 1.7 , , 1.0 , , .3 , , 9.6

Playoffs

, - , style="text-align:left;",

2009 2009 was designated as the International Year of Astronomy by the United Nations to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's first known astronomical studies with a telescope and the publication of Astronomia Nova by Joha ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 21 , , 16 , , 26.2 , , .435 , , .273 , , .885 , , 1.9 , , 1.3 , , .9 , , .1 , , 8.0 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2013 2013 was the first year since 1987 to contain four unique digits (a span of 26 years). 2013 was designated as: *International Year of Water Cooperation *International Year of Quinoa Events January * January 5 – 2013 Craig, Alask ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 4 , , 0 , , 9.8 , , .200 , , .000 , , 1.000 , , .5 , , .3 , , .5 , , .0 , , 1.5 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2014 The year 2014 was marked by the surge of the Western African Ebola epidemic, West African Ebola epidemic, which began in 2013, becoming the List of Ebola outbreaks, most widespread outbreak of the Ebola, Ebola virus in human history, resul ...

, style="text-align:left;", Memphis , 7 , , 7 , , 32.0 , , .417 , , .316 , , .778 , , 2.0 , , 1.6 , , .7 , , .3 , , 10.0 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2015 2015 was designated by the United Nations as: * International Year of Light * International Year of Soil __TOC__ Events January * January 1 – Lithuania officially adopts the euro as its currency, replacing the litas, and becomes ...

, style="text-align:left;", Memphis , 11 , , 11 , , 33.4 , , .550 , , .467 , , .957 , , 2.5 , , 2.2 , , 1.1 , , .0 , , 13.3 , - , style="text-align:left;",

2016 2016 was designated as: * International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly. * International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Internationa ...

, style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 7 , , 7 , , 36.7 , , .412 , , .444 , , .933 , , 2.9 , , 1.3 , , .9 , , .4 , , 8.6 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 50 , , 41 , , 28.7 , , .457 , , .346 , , .895 , , 2.1 , , 1.4 , , .9 , , .2 , , 9.0

College

, - , style="text-align:left;", 2004–05 , style="text-align:left;", Western Kentucky , 31 , , 31 , , 33.2 , , .450 , , .399 , , .722 , , 5.2 , , 2.0 , , 1.8 , , .5 , , 14.9 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2005–06 , style="text-align:left;", Western Kentucky , 30 , , 30 , , 31.1 , , .451 , , .408 , , .847 , , 6.3 , , 2.9 , , 2.6 , , .3 , , 17.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2006–07 , style="text-align:left;", Western Kentucky , 30 , , 30 , , 30.6 , , .472 , , .401 , , .840 , , 4.6 , , 1.9 , , 1.5 , , .8 , , 17.3 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2007–08 , style="text-align:left;", Western Kentucky , 36 , , 36 , , 30.0 , , .477 , , .397 , , .822 , , 4.9 , , 2.1 , , 1.8 , , .8 , , 20.4 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 127 , , 127 , , 31.2 , , .464 , , .401 , , .817 , , 5.2 , , 2.2 , , 1.9 , , .6 , , 17.6

References

External links

Courtney Lee
at yahoo.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Courtney 1985 births Living people American men's basketball players Basketball players from Indianapolis Boston Celtics players Charlotte Hornets players Dallas Mavericks players Houston Rockets players Memphis Grizzlies players New Jersey Nets players New York Knicks players Orlando Magic draft picks Orlando Magic players Pike High School alumni Shooting guards Small forwards Westchester Knicks players Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball players 21st-century African-American sportsmen 20th-century African-American sportsmen 20th-century American sportsmen