Courtney Lee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Courtney Lee

Lee with the Boston Celtics in 2013
Shooting guard
Personal information
Born	(1985-10-03) October 3, 1985 (age 39) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
High school	Pike (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Listed height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight	215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
College	Western Kentucky (2004–2008)
NBA Draft	2008 / Round: 1 / Pick: 22nd overall
Selected by the Orlando Magic
Pro career	2008–2020
Career history
2008–2009	Orlando Magic
2009–2010	New Jersey Nets
2010–2012	Houston Rockets
2012–2014	Boston Celtics
2014–2016	Memphis Grizzlies
2016	Charlotte Hornets
2016–2019	New York Knicks
2018	→Westchester Knicks
2019–2020	Dallas Mavericks
Career highlights and awards
Sun Belt Player of the Year (2008) 3× First-team All-Sun Belt (2006–2008) No. 32 jersey retired by Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

Courtney Lee (born October 3, 1985) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

Lee was chosen by the Orlando Magic in the 2008 NBA draft. He later played for several other teams. These included the New Jersey Nets, Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies, Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks, and Dallas Mavericks.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Courtney Lee was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He grew up there and started playing basketball early.

High School Success

Lee went to Pike High School in Indianapolis. He was part of the team that won the Indiana 4A state championship in 2003. He also played for the Indy Hornets AAU team. This team won many state championships. Experts thought he was one of the best shooting guards in the country in 2004.

College Career at Western Kentucky

In 2004, Lee joined the Western Kentucky team. He quickly made a name for himself.

Setting Records and Earning Awards

In his first year, Lee scored 461 points. This was a new record for a freshman at WKU. He was named First Team All-Sun Belt Conference for three years in a row. As a senior, he was named Sun Belt Player of the Year.

Lee also helped his team reach the Sweet 16 in the 2008 NCAA Tournament. He was one of the top scorers in the nation, averaging 20.4 points per game. On January 27, 2008, he scored a career-high 33 points against Arkansas State.

College Legacy

Courtney Lee finished his college career with 2,238 points. This tied him for the all-time leading scorer at WKU. He played in 127 games and made 245 three-point shots. His jersey number 32 was retired by Western Kentucky in 2015. This is a special honor for great players.

Lee has a tattoo on his arm that says "R.I.P. Danny Rumph". This is a tribute to his WKU teammate who passed away in 2005.

Professional Basketball Journey

Courtney Lee played in the NBA for many years. He was known for his shooting and defense.

Orlando Magic (2008–2009)

Lee defending Kobe Bryant in January 2009

The Orlando Magic picked Lee 22nd overall in the 2008 NBA draft. In February 2009, he scored 21 points against the Los Angeles Clippers. In March 2009, he set a new career high with 22 points against the New York Knicks. He made important free throws to help the Magic win that game.

During the 2009 NBA playoffs, Lee played a big role. He scored 18 points in Game 1 and 24 points in Game 2 against the Philadelphia 76ers. In Game 5, he got hit in the face and broke a bone. He had to wear a protective mask for the rest of the playoffs. In Game 2 of the 2009 NBA Finals, he missed a shot that could have won the game for the Magic.

New Jersey Nets (2009–2010)

Lee with the Nets in October 2009

After his first year, Lee was traded to the New Jersey Nets in June 2009. During the 2009–10 season, he was a key player for the Nets. He led the team in steals and three-point shots made. He also had a very high free throw percentage. On March 8, 2010, he scored a career-high 30 points against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Houston Rockets (2010–2012)

In August 2010, Lee was traded to the Houston Rockets. He played for the Rockets for two seasons.

Boston Celtics (2012–2014)

Lee was traded to the Boston Celtics in July 2012. He signed a four-year contract with the team. He started the 2013–14 season well, making about half of his three-point shots.

Memphis Grizzlies (2014–2016)

In January 2014, Lee was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. He helped the Grizzlies win a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder by scoring 24 points. He also made the winning free throws at the end of that game.

Charlotte Hornets (2016)

Lee was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in February 2016. He played his first game with the Hornets a few days later.

New York Knicks (2016–2019)

In July 2016, Lee signed a four-year contract with the New York Knicks. Before the 2017–18 season, he was named a co-captain of the team. In January 2018, Lee set a new Knicks record. He made 45 free throws in a row, which was the most in the team's history. He also played a game with the Westchester Knicks, their minor league team.

Dallas Mavericks (2019–2020)

In January 2019, Lee was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. He played for the Mavericks until 2020. In June 2020, he had a calf injury. After the season, he became a free agent. He officially retired from basketball on June 21, 2021.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

College

See also

In Spanish: Courtney Lee para niños