An Interview with Damion Lee

I’ve never been to a basketball game before. I could probably count on one hand the number of times I’ve attempted to shoot a basket.

As I stand in the middle of the court in the Phoenix Suns stadium with Championship winning NBA legend Damion Lee, I feel at the very best, out of my depth. Thankfully I have a port in which to shelter: Damion is obsessed with golf.

I saw from a distance you were making a few practice swings on court during the break?

Yeah, it's funny, probably once or twice a game, I just randomly try to find the slot. You know, during the season, it's tough to play. Last time I played was December. So we're almost like five, six weeks out from swinging a club.

You’ve got to get your practice in whenever you can. From what I hear, you haven’t been playing for very long. Is that right?

I started playing around COVID and then took it a little more serious a year or so after that. I actually got off to a pretty hot start. My second time playing golf, trying to figure out the game. I don't remember what club I hit, probably like a 50 degree on a short par 3. I just thin it.

It doesn't go more than five feet off the ground. There's a cart path on the left, there's rocks on the left, the lake's on the right. It goes probably this high, bounces cart path, bounces cart path again.

Hits the rocks, bounces onto the green, and it's rolling. The caddie who’s with us is like, oh, that might be good. It goes in.

A hole in one in my second time ever playing golf. I'm like, oh, this is the game? People play their whole life to get this?! I’m it.

If something is going to give you the bug, thats it.

There seems to be a massive through line of professional athletes who are obsessed with golf. Are many of your teammates joining you on the course?

Yeah, me and [Devon] Book [er] play a lot, Grayson Allen as well. That's the main two guys that I play with. But when we're on the road, I bring my laptop and we're always playing PGA 2K. There's a new one coming out in a few weeks, February 21st. Already got the pre- order dialled in.

We’ve actually got our clothing in the game for the first time, so you can get a full MANORS fit off on the Playstation. Between practice swings and PGA Tour video games, what's the percentage of golf to basketball thoughts in your brain?

70-30: golf. I mean, obviously I'm pretty dialled in on basketball but if you ask my wife, if I have the remote, it's on the golf channel. PGA, KornFerry, Q School, DP. I'm watching everything.

I think the beauty of golf is two things for me. One, it's taught me patience in my everyday life. And just understanding that I have to give myself some grace, have patience with myself, with my family.

And honestly, it's actually made me a better shooter. When I first started playing, Steph and Andre Iguodala said, if you can shoot free throws, you'll be a good golfer. I couldn’t understand the correlation but they convinced me that putting is like free throws. I'm like, perfect.

Speaking of freethrows, it feels criminal that I've not asked you about your Championship ring yet. Can you take us back to 2022 and how it felt to check that off the list?

That's definitely one of the greatest accomplishments playing sports. All the injuries that I've gone through and then to become a world champion, thats something that I can forever hold with me. Having my family and my Mom there for the final game. It was one of the best feats of my life.

Maybe that championship game is an exception, but can you compare the feeling before a big game: the nerves and anticipation, to being on the first tee. Which are you more nervous about?

Oh the first tee for sure. I mean, I still get butterflies before every basketball game. Still get the jitters, but I've been playing basketball for longer than I've been golfing. So I can learn how to adjust to those butterflies.

There’s just something about hearing your name being called, whether you're playing in a Pro Am or playing in an event and you’re on that first tee and everyone's watching you. It's just you and your thoughts. But as long as you can get off the first tee, the day will be fine. You hit that first one OB, and it's a different story.

Damien and I have a tee time tomorrow at TPC Scottsdale where I’m hoping we can craft the correct story. I’m relieved to be switching the basketball court for the comfort of the fairways.

What are you hoping to shoot?

Honestly, anywhere in the 80s would be good - being that I haven't played in a while.

Even NBA stars have to get there excuses in before the big game.