Lee Still Not At Full Speed

As a high school senior, David Lee was a high flyer who, like any teenager, loved the thrill and the theatrics of making highlight-reel dunks. He is now a burgeoning star for the Knicks because of a far more basic skill — rebounding.


Lee offered a simple lesson to the 100 high school players attending the National Basketball Players Association’s annual camp this weekend.

“My main message really was that they’ve got to find something they’re good at and really stress that,” Lee said yesterday in a telephone interview from the camp, in Charlottesville, Va. “Not everybody’s going to be a scorer. As long as you’re really, really good at one thing, there’s always going to be a place for you on the court.”

Lee did not learn that lesson until his last two seasons at Florida, where he turned himself into a rebounding force to gain the attention of N.B.A. scouts. Now, two years into his pro career, Lee has blossomed into one of the league’s top rebounders. He ranked 11th in the league last season, averaging 10.4 rebounds a game, and became an instant folk hero at Madison Square Garden.

Only a nagging injury to his lower right leg put a damper on Lee’s breakout season.

Lee barely played during the final two months of the season, and the Knicks — who were also missing the injured starters Jamal Crawford and Quentin Richardson — plummeted out of playoff contention. Lee said his leg was “doing a lot better,” but he had not tested it in a game setting.

Lee has been working out daily at the team’s training center in Greenburgh, N.Y. His routine includes shooting drills and some running, but he has yet to go full speed or attempt a dunk by pushing off on that leg.

“I haven’t really needed to be full speed at this point,” Lee said.

It has been four months since Lee fell awkwardly in a game Feb. 23 against Milwaukee, with what did not appear to be a severe injury. After that game, the team said he had sprained his right ankle and strained a muscle in his lower leg. The injury was later classified as a stress reaction and, finally, as a bone bruise combined with a strained tendon.

Lee steered away from any description of the injury yesterday and said his progress was fine. He said he typically did not start playing basketball again until late July or August. He is staying in shape through work on a treadmill and an elliptical trainer.

“With what I’m doing right now, it feels great,” he said.

On the court, Lee is trying to refine his midrange jump shot and develop better ball-handling skills. Sometime this summer, the Knicks are expected to exercise an option that will extend Lee’s contract through 2009.

Lee set aside his rehabilitation for a few days to tutor the seniors at the camp, which Lee also once attended. Tomorrow, Lee will work with players at the Knicks’ summer basketball camp at the sports complex at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn.

Posted by Pharzeone:

Posted by BlueSeats:

Posted by Silverfuel:

This sucks. Wtf is taking him so long? Any chance he plays in the summer league?

Since he says he doesn't typically play bball until late July or August, it would appear he not only doesn't intend to play in this years summer league, it suggests he's unaware that he already played in the prior two.

Maybe his pain killers are too strong?

I think the Summer Leagues start around then. Hey he is enjoying life and healing from his injury. He is officially a NYK.