Top 25 Golden State Warriors in franchise history

23. David Lee

All right guys. Easy now. Give me a break.

David Lee is a flawed basketball player. The end of his Golden State Warriors career wasn’t great. But he also did a lot of good things for the team in his five seasons on the Dubs.

He was really the Warriors’ first big free agent signing in years when he left the New York Knicks for the Bay Area. He immediately became one of the leaders on the team. Unfortunately, those teams weren’t very good. He was a double-double machine, giving the Warriors something consistent during a time when there was a lot of turnover.

Lee really took a huge step when he became the Warriors’ first All-Star since Latrell Sprewell in 1997. He averaged 18.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per game while shooting 51.9 percent from the field during the 2012-13 season. He helped the Warriors secure their first playoff berth since 2007.

In it, he got hurt in the opening game and, while many thought he wouldn’t return with a torn hip flexor, he did. He played as Golden State upset the Denver Nuggets and advanced to the second round. It was a special moment for a guy who had never made the playoffs before.

Two years later, Lee would have to take a back seat to Draymond Green. Injury kept him out early and he could never regain his starting spot. He didn’t get regular minutes, but when the Warriors needed him most, he provided. Down 2-1 in the NBA Finals, Steve Kerr turned to Lee who gave the Warriors strong minutes.

He’s a fan-favorite. He wasn’t the best, but he embodied what it meant to be a Warrior. He played hard and never complained. He was an All-Star and an All-NBA player. Ultimately, he was rewarded with a championship ring.

Next: No. 22