2-time All-Star, NBA champ David Lee confirms retirement from NBA
Prolific old-school big man David Lee took to social media Sunday to announce his playing days have indeed come to an end.
"An epic night celebrating my retirement with my friends and family!" Lee posted on Instagram.
Lee was selected to play in the All-Star game twice - in 2010 as a member of the Knicks and 2013 with the Warriors. In that latter season, the 6-foot-9 power forward was also named to the All-NBA Third Team, playing a significant role in the Warriors' offense in the first season with both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson as full-time starters.
If the 2012-13 season was Lee's high watermark for individual achievement, the highlight of his overall career was two years later, when his Warriors captured the 2014-15 championship over LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers.
In many ways, it was Lee's frequent injuries toward the end of his tenure with Golden State that opened the door for Draymond Green's emergence - and arguably contributed to the league-wide shift toward small-ball lineups.
Neither a rim protector nor a long-range threat, Lee's particular interior, offensive skillset made him and similar big men an endangered species in the modern NBA. While even true centers like Marc Gasol, DeMarcus Cousins, and Brook Lopez are now connecting on 3-point shots at a reasonably efficient rate, Lee only made one 3-pointer (on 30 attempts) in his career.
Lee last played for the San Antonio Spurs in 2016-17, averaging 7.3 points and 5.6 rebounds in 18.7 minutes per game. In June, Lee declined a player option for the 2017-18 season worth approximately $2.3 million, electing to become a free agent.
Even if the NBA is plainly in Lee's rear view, things are looking up for the 34-year-old. Earlier this month, Lee and tennis superstar Caroline Wozniacki - the WTA No. 3-ranked singles player - announced their engagement.