| One On One With Courtney Lee Authored by Alex Kennedy - January 28, 2009 - 11:01 am
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The weekend had several outstanding games, but none better than the 12th ranked Western Kentucky Hilltoppers defeating the 5th seeded Drake on a buzzer-beating three in overtime.
It was March Madness at its finest and every fan in the building that day was standing for the final minutes of regulation and overtime. The Hilltoppers continued their unlikely journey all the way to the Elite Eight where they went on to lose to the top seed in their bracket, the UCLA Bruins.
Throughout the tournament run, one player in particular stood out to me. He was explosive, quicker than his peers, and seemed to be all over the court making an impact. He was a senior by the name of Courtney Lee.
Lee, who led the Hilltoppers in scoring throughout the regular season, averaged 20.6 points, 8 rebounds, 2.6 steals, and 1.7 blocks during the three-game run and his performance had NBA circles talking. One of those teams, the Orlando Magic, worked out the six-foot-five shooting guard and was impressed with nearly every aspect of his game. The Magic would select Lee with the twenty-second pick in the NBA Draft.
Nearly ten months after I first witnessed Lee's dominance in Tampa, I was sitting face-to-face with him courtside in Orlando after his pregame shootaround prior to a game against the Indiana Pacers.
In this RealGM exclusive interview, Lee displays the personality that has allowed him to fit in so well with his new teammates and the confidence that has helped make the transition from college basketball to the NBA so easy for him.
RealGM: Hey Courtney, thanks for your time.
Lee: No problem.
RealGM: You're nearly at the halfway point of your first season in the NBA. What have you learned thus far?
Lee: I've learned a lot [smirks].
RealGM: A lot. Anything you didn't expect or would like to share?
Lee: [Laughs] I'm just kidding. I've learned a lot about the game. All the different styles of play, the pace, the shape you have to be in, and how important dieting is in this league. I've definitely learned a lot so far.
RealGM: Which players have you connected with the most to make your transition easier?
Lee: On this team, we've got a lot of good guys and I've connected with all of them. Every day in practice, one of the guys is always trying to teach me something new and off the court, we all stick together so everyone [has been helpful].
RealGM: Right now, your role on this team is to bring energy and defense off the bench but in college, you were an amazing scorer. Do you think that someday you'll be an elite scorer at this level as well?
Lee: I definitely do. But right now, my role is just to knock down shots on the offensive end, play good defense, and be a good teammate but yeah, I definitely think I can.
RealGM: If that's the case, will you be forming a Shaq and Kobe duo with Dwight down the road?
Lee: (laughs) Nah, since were in Orlando well be forming that Shaq and Penny duo.
The player who first caught my eye by making his presence felt all over the court is continuing to do the same against NBA competition.
Whether it's hitting a big three, playing lock-down defense, or soaring through the air for an easy basket, Courtney Lee has been doing everything the Magic could have hoped for and more.
He stepped up and filled the void when starter Mickael Pietrus fractured his wrist and on this night, his nine first half points would help the Magic take a double digit lead that they would not lose for the remainder of the game.
While Lee's tournament performance may be a memory, his new journey as a member of the Orlando Magic has just begun. And if his confidence is any indication, he'll be a force to reckon with for years to come, once again bringing fans to their feet and making an impact from baseline to baseline. |
