How a broken arm transformed a natural lefty into an NBA star
In short: Before he was a two-time NBA All-Star, David Lee had to relearn how to play. A childhood injury forced the naturally left-handed St. Louis native to master his right hand, a feat of adaptability that would later define his versatile professional career.
David Lee’s path to the NBA was marked by remarkable versatility. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Lee was naturally left-handed, but after breaking his left arm, he learned to play right-handed, becoming essentially ambidextrous. This adaptability served him well during his collegiate years with the Florida Gators, where he played under coach Billy Donovan from 2001 to 2005. During his sophomore season, he averaged 11.5 points and 7 rebounds, eventually leading the Gators to their first SEC men's basketball tournament championship in 2005 by defeating Kentucky.
Drafted 30th overall by the New York Knicks in 2005, Lee’s professional career was defined by high-impact statistical feats. He became a dominant force in the paint, notably scoring 37 points and 20 rebounds in a single game in 2008—the first Knick to achieve those numbers since Patrick Ewing in 1997. In 2010, his influence on matches was demonstrated by a triple-double featuring 37 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists, a feat not achieved by any player since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1976.
While Lee enjoyed individual accolades, including being named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2013, his greatest team success came with the Golden State Warriors. After being traded to the Warriors in the 2010 offseason, he played a vital role in their 2015 NBA championship victory. Though injuries and roster shifts eventually led him to stints with the Celtics, Mavericks, and Spurs, Lee remained a significant figure in the league until his retirement in November 2017.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: David Lee (basketball)
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