After being one of the best 3-point shooters in the entire NBA last season, Damion Lee opted to return to the Phoenix Suns this summer on a one-year deal
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The 6-foot-5 guard was looking to build off his first season in Phoenix in which he averaged 8.2 points on 44.5% shooting from 3 and 3.0 rebounds across 74 games.
However, that all came to a halt on Oct. 11, 2023, only a few weeks before the start of the season, when it was announced Lee would be undergoing right meniscus surgery.
The 31-year-old Lee, who recently started doing on-court work again, has not played in a single game since the surgery.
Today at Suns (47-33) shootaround at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento ahead of tonight’s game against the Kings (45-35), Lee met with reporters for the first time since the surgery.
“The last six months have been tough, had some ups and downs,” Lee said. “(I’ll) further elaborate on those in due time, but from where I was to where I am now, it’s truly a blessing to be able to be on the court. I’m just excited. I’m taking it day-by-day however the process goes, how long it goes. Very serious injury, serious surgery, serious recovery. So taking it all day-by-day, and when I’m back out there, I’m back out there.”
With only two games remaining in the season, coach Frank Vogel recently said Lee will not return until some time in the playoffs.
So what exactly happened to Lee, as meniscus surgery recoveries typically have three-to-six month recovery timelines or even less..?
“It was deemed as a meniscus surgery,” Lee said. “Long story short, it was a root repair. So if you Google that, essentially, my meniscus tore off the bone. Yeah, life happens. Figure it out. You go from there. It’s not the standard, everyone thinks, three months, six months. Whatever the time period is, the time period is. For me, it’s just a matter of taking it day-by-day and knowing what it is, knowing where I am in my career and trying to give my all to come back this year. And we’ll see where it goes from there.”
The Challenges of Recovery
This has not been an easy recovery process at all for Lee, he explained.
“It was tough,” Lee said. “As someone that’s had previous knee injuries, a previous ACL, meniscus in my right knee, a previous left ACL, two broken hands, a foot procedure all essentially before playing an NBA game, so many thoughts go through your mind. For me, it was just a matter of how can I find peace in whatever this is knowing there are some dark days and were some dark days fighting depression. Still battling that and getting out of that as we speak.
“I feel like I lost part of my identity in that I couldn’t play basketball. It felt essentially like the game was taken away, and (I) didn’t know what was on the other side. Appreciate my family for the support, team for the support, front office, staff, everyone here in the Suns, my friends, and then just trying to find ways to get back in touch with God and know that I’m the person that has to go through this to show other people, the undrafted, the underdogs, that you can fight through and you can be better than you are, and we’ll see where it goes. But every time I’ve had a major injury, by the grace of God, I’ve come back better.”
Lee would not consider himself to be on the downhill part of the recovery process.
“Still hasn’t happened to be realistic,” Lee said. “I’m taking steps, check-ups are going well, taking steps, taking moments to be better, but it’ll happen most likely once I’m fully out there without looking back, playing five-on-five, working out no restrictions. I get that first fall to get myself back up, check my awareness, check my body, okay, I’m good.
“For where I am now from where I was, I’m in a far better place. It’s just chipping away at that and just knowing that it’s around the corner, so take those days. I don’t want to be all sad and s—. Like, I’m blessed, man. I got a beautiful wife, two children, healthy, supportive family. Keeping all that in perspective and knowing that basketball is the thing that helps afford the lifestyle that we live. And knowing that when it’s time for that, that’s one thing I don’t ever take for granted. It’ll be back soon. Whenever the body is ready.”
Lee described when he could see himself coming back.
“To be determined,” Lee said. “I’ll just leave it at this: I feel like the longer we go in the postseason, the more likely there’s a chance. So no timetable necessarily. It’s all feel based, I mean (I was) out here shooting, jumping, some overground stuff, running. The longer we go, the more likely there’s a chance, that’s the best I can (put it).”
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
