Courtney Lee facts for kids
Lee with the Boston Celtics in 2013
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| Shooting guard | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 3, 1985 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| 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 | |
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Courtney Lee (born October 3, 1985) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball at Western Kentucky University.
Lee was chosen by the Orlando Magic as the 22nd pick 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. He retired from playing basketball in 2021.
Contents
Early Life and High School Basketball
Courtney Lee was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He grew up there and played basketball from a young age.
High School Success
Lee went to Pike High School in Indianapolis. In 2003, his team won the Indiana 4A state championship. He also played for the Indy Hornets, a special amateur team. With them, he won many state championships. Experts thought he was one of the best shooting guards in the country in 2004.
College Basketball Career
In 2004, Courtney Lee decided to play for Western Kentucky University. He joined their basketball team, the Hilltoppers.
Setting Records at Western Kentucky
In his first year, Lee scored 461 points. This was a new record for a freshman at WKU. He was named to the First Team All-Sun Belt Conference three years in a row. In his senior year, he was named the Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year.
Lee helped lead the Hilltoppers to the "Sweet 16" in the 2008 NCAA Tournament. This is when a team makes it to the final 16 teams in the national college championship. He scored 20.4 points per game that season, making him 28th in the nation.
College Highlights
On January 27, 2008, Lee scored his highest college points in one game. He got 33 points in a win against Arkansas State. He finished his college career with 2,238 points. This tied him for the all-time leading scorer at WKU.
During his four years, he started all 127 games he played. He was very good at shooting free throws, making 82% of them. He also made 245 three-point shots. In 2015, Western Kentucky honored him by retiring his jersey number 32. This means no other player on the team will wear that number again.
Lee has a tattoo on his arm that says "R.I.P. Danny Rumph". This is a tribute to his WKU teammate who sadly passed away in 2005.
Professional Basketball Journey
Courtney Lee played for several teams during his professional career.
Orlando Magic (2008–2009)
The Orlando Magic picked Lee 22nd overall in the 2008 NBA draft. In February 2009, he scored 21 points against the Los Angeles Clippers. Later, in March 2009, he set a new personal best with 22 points against the New York Knicks. He made important free throws to help the Magic win that game.
During the 2009 playoffs, Lee played very well. In one game, he scored 24 points. However, he got hit in the face during a game and broke a bone. He had to wear a protective mask for the rest of the playoffs. In the 2009 NBA Finals, Lee almost made a game-winning shot that would have tied the series.
New Jersey Nets (2009–2010)
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. In March 2010, he scored a career-high 30 points in a game.
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 deal 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. A week later, he helped the Grizzlies win a close game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He scored 24 points, which was his season high. He also made the winning free throws at the end of the game.
Charlotte Hornets (2016)
Lee was traded again in February 2016, this time to the Charlotte Hornets. He played his first game with the Hornets a few days later, helping them win against the Brooklyn Nets.
New York Knicks (2016–2019)
In July 2016, Lee signed 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 record for the Knicks. He made 45 free throws in a row, which was the most in the team's history. He also played a game with the Knicks' minor league team, the Westchester Knicks.
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 during a break in the NBA season. After the season, he became a free agent. He signed with the Mavericks again in December 2020 but was later released. Courtney Lee officially retired from basketball on June 21, 2021.
Images for kids
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Lee defending Kobe Bryant in January 2009
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Lee with the Nets in October 2009
See also
In Spanish: Courtney Lee para niños
