Damion Lee returns to full practice, likely to play Wednesday against the Hornets

The Golden State Warriors received some good news ahead of their Wednesday matchup against the Charlotte Hornets. According to a tweet by Kerith Burke of NBC Sports Bay Area, shooting guard Damion Lee practiced fully and is expected to play on Wednesday.

The Warriors will be happy to welcome Damion Lee back to the rotation after he missed the previous game due to a shoulder injury. On the season, Lee is averaging 14.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. Lee gives the team a solid veteran presence off the bench who has experience and comfortability in the Warriors’ system. On offense, Lee does everything Golden State wants from an off-ball role player. He does a good job of putting himself in the right position on the floor to take the open shot. So far this season, Lee is shooting 46.2% from the three-point line on 5.2 attempts per game. When he’s not shooting, he’s making smart cuts to the rim and running hard in transition for easy points.

More importantly, Lee has the trust of Steve Kerr and the coaching staff. Of the 5 games Lee has played, Kerr has occasionally opted for Lee to be part of the closing lineup. In the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Lee was a big reason for the Warriors win. He scored 20 points with 13 of them in the second half and was the spark that pulled the Warriors out of a slump after halftime. In his post-game press conference, Lee repeatedly emphasized: “Always being ready”, with regards to his approach on the team. This mentality has been clear for Golden State as Lee has been the steady force who contributes to the team every night.