Before kick starting last season, Phoenix Suns guard Damion Lee was looking forward to his second year with the team and excited to get everything going.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Then something serious happened that impacted his life both physically and mentally.
Lee ended up injuring his right meniscus which required surgery. After further evaluation, however, this setback was even more detrimental than first thought of as it ultimately forced Lee to miss the entire 2023-24 campaign.
Appearing back at Footprint Center for media day on Monday, the 6-foot-5 guard let out his raw emotion of what happened throughout the lengthy rehab process and now inching closer to a return to NBA action.
“It’s been a journey,” Lee said. “Oct. 10 will be a year out of surgery. I initially went in for a regular meniscus injury, come to find out it was a root tear. Then come to find out both roots were off, so it was a double posterior root repair, which is a very rare surgery. Had some other stuff go on in the early part, it was an uphill battle for a while. Fighting depression, going to see a therapist, just didn’t know if I was going to be the same person again let alone the same player. Going through that was tough but I got to give credit to God, my family, my wife, my kids, my mom, my support system.
Whenever an athlete is out with an injury, the physical side of the game can raise the emotions of an individual but could also heavily impact someone’s mental health as well. Sidelined for an extended period of time like a year Lee was out, negative thoughts that enter into one’s own head can lead to changing their perspective on life.
“It’s pretty crazy to see the jump that you can have because a month in, there’s no way in my mind I would think of where I am now. Three months ago there was no way I would think I would be where I am now. I have been through stuff, like I have been through some s***. I have torn both of my ACLs before, I have had a foot procedure and I broke my hand twice all before playing in the NBA. I have been through ‘it’ and I am still standing tall. That’s perseverance, that’s resilience, that’s faith, believing that it’s possible.”
Not being able to work out and get into physical shape, Lee saw his daily routine change which impacted how his appearance looked. Instead of gaining pounds of muscle, he couldn’t burn off calories and gained weight.
Relooking at where he was, especially at the beginning stages of rehab, Lee knew he wasn’t in the best shape physically and mentally, showing him that he is human and goes through things everyone else does regardless of the fame.
“I was up to 225 [pounds]. If you guys look at pictures of me in Feburary and April, sure I wasn’t to be as active but my playing weight is 202. That’s another thing that is like a layer where people look at us on social media and they look at us like superheroes, but we’re real people who go through real-life s***. I’ll never take anyone’s story about what they go through for granted.”
Undrafted out of Louisville, the Maryland native has fought to where he is with him having longevity in his professional career. Lee has played six seasons in the league, appearing in 290 games (58 starts) and became a 2022 NBA champion when he was on the Golden State Warriors. Before a four-year tenure with the Warriors, Lee began his career with the Atlanta Hawks.
With the odds stacked against him by not being drafted, he understands his unconventional path to where he is today is not a given and he has to keep pushing no matter what.
“Guys like me, we don’t get chances like that. You have to go get it,” Lee said. “That’s really where my mindset is this year. I understand this is a very meaningful year for my career, and it’s just a matter of me coming in every day and getting my work in, doing what I do, staying down and whenever my number is called, just be able to go out there and play.”
Lee is back at training camp nearly a year after when he underwent surgery. Despite having a substantial gap of when he last participated in a practice, he has been seen smiling and bringing a brightful vibe to his teammates around him.
He re-signed with Phoenix in the offseason with the organization continuing to instill trust in him. Multiple players have given him credit for his journey and going through what he has gone through, respecting his grind and relentless work ethic.
With his family, friends and the Suns wanting him to succeed, Lee will not let this opportunity to slip out of his grasp.
“I have been through a lot to be here today, and I will be damned if I give up.”
*Get the BEST Phoenix sports insider information, and exclusive content. SIGN UP HEREÂ to unlock our premium content!*
Reporter Alec Cipollini covers the Phoenix Mercury, Suns and ASU Athletics for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
