David Lee Gets a "Major Award"

[GothamGator]

Named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week.

Link

Warriors forward David Lee has been named the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, December 10, through Sunday, December 16, the NBA announced today.

In four games last week, Lee averaged 22.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.00 steal, while shooting 60.6% (40-66 FG) from the field, leading the Warriors to a 3-1 record to help complete a season-long, seven-game road trip with a franchise record 6-1 mark. The 6-9 forward registered at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in all four games, as he did in all seven games of the road trip to become the first NBA player to post such numbers in every game of a road trip of at least seven games in length since 1972 when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did so in every game of a nine-game trip.

The award is the second such honor in Lee’s career, previously earning the Eastern Conference accolade on February 1, 2009, as a member of the New York Knicks. It is the 29th time a Warriors player has been named Player of the Week since the NBA began giving out the award in 1979 and the first since Monta Ellis on March 12, 2012.

In 24 games this season, the seven-year veteran is averaging 19.2 points (13th in NBA), 11.5 rebounds (5th), 3.4 assists and 1.00 steal, while shooting 52.3% from the field (19th). He also ranks second in the league in double-doubles (16) and has posted ten 20-point/10-rebound games, matching LeBron James for most in the NBA this season. Lee is currently the only player in the NBA averaging at least 19 points, 11 rebounds and three assists, something only Wilt Chamberlain, Nate Thurmond, Neil Johnston and Jerry Lucas have done in franchise history.

Thanks to 108, who first posted this in the insiders forum.

[gatordd]

Solid! Mr Consistent. Still crazy we had him for 4 years.

[EvenParGator]

I watched him play in Orlando last week and I was continually amazed at how active he is, runs the floor like it matter every possession. I've never seen any player optimize his opportunities more than DLee. Never quits on anything. Amazing!

[UFG8rGuy3283]

One of the things I will always remember about David Lee is how he came back and cheered on the '04s and the rest of the team that won the first NC when they were in the tournament. After meeting his mom in Orlando at the AAU Super Showcase when he was in high school and the way he seems to have always carried himself, he is one of the most underrated players and human beings to play basketball at UF.

Very, very happy for his success in the NBA. By all accounts, a great guy as well.

[GatorLurker]

Awesome for David. I just wished he played further East so that it would be easier to watch some of his games.

I wonder if Tyler Hansbrough ever regrets going to UNC instead of Florida.

[kygator]

I was really expecting a leg lamp.

[bullish]

He would have if we would have given his mother an 80-90 thousand dollar job raising money for the athletic program. Which is OK to the NCAA since this is now public.

[UFG8rGuy3283]

Originally Posted by kygator

I was really expecting a leg lamp.

LOL...me too...rep!

[jagervol01]

Originally Posted by kygator

I was really expecting a leg lamp.

Fra-jee-le... Ah, well it must be Italian!

[GatorPlanet]

I'm overcome by art.

[TampaGatorFan]

Originally Posted by kygator

I was really expecting a leg lamp.

FRA-GEE-LAY.....it must be ITALIAN!

[GothamGator]

Ha! I'm glad you guys got my seasonal movie reference.

David Lee is the best former Gator in the NBA right now and has been for a while. Yet, he still flies under the radar. He's just a great guy who has worked terribly hard and kept his ego in check. Hopefully, Golden State can keep having a solid year so that David gets a chance to show off in the playoffs.

[Go2gtr]

Story about David:
He was traded to the Warriors and was no longer with the Knicks. He hadn't cleared out yet when the long-time locker room clean-up guy's wife passed away. This man was a fixture in the Knicks locker room and was liked by everyone.

At the funeral for the wife, not one Knicks player payed respects. David Lee, now a Warrior, was spotted in the back of the funeral paying his respects but not trying to draw attention to himself.

One of the great stories of all times about a Gator.

[GatorMcCluskey]

DLee also donated $25000 to the city of Oakland to help fund their annual Thanksgiving dinner for senior citizens and homeless/low income families. The dinner was going to be cancelled due to insufficient funds, and officials decided to ask players from the Warriors if they could help. Apparently the first person they asked was Lee - he asked them how much they were short and they said 25K, so he wrote a check to cover the whole thing.

the guy is a good human being and I'm extremely happy to see him beasting for Golden State.

[regurgigator]

Great stories Go2gtr and McCluskey - rep to you both!

[MJGator8104]

Originally Posted by regurgigator

Great stories Go2gtr and McCluskey - rep to you both!

Agreed and rep.

[GatorLurker]

Originally Posted by GatorMcCluskey

the guy (added in edit: David Lee) is a good human being and I'm extremely happy to see him beasting for Golden State.

Yes and Yes.

My father (may he rest in peace) was a basketball fan of the Illinois persuasion. (There was lots of back and forth between rounds 1 and 2 of the 2000 NCAA tournament.) One Christmas break when he was visiting I took him to a Gator game when D Lee was playing. His comment was "That is a man playing among boys".

[your_perfect_enemy]

Any chance he gets a look for the US olympic team? I don't think he's on the select team and there's quite a few pf's with Love, griffin and Davis, but I'd give him a look

[StrangeGator]

Originally Posted by bullish

He would have if we would have given his mother an 80-90 thousand dollar job raising money for the athletic program. Which is OK to the NCAA since this is now public.

His mom doesn't need the money. She bought a home in Gainesville while David was there just for basketball season, then returned to St. Louis every spring. She loves watching the Gators play.

[GCNumber7]

Originally Posted by StrangeGator

His mom doesn't need the money. She bought a home in Gainesville while David was there just for basketball season, then returned to St. Louis every spring. She loves watching the Gators play.

Yeah money has never been an issue for David's family.