Ranking the 16 worst Warriors starters of the Stephen Curry era

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 18: Stephen Curry #30 interviews Eric Paschall #7 of the Golden State Warriors after their win against the Orlando Magic at the Chase Center on January 18, 2020 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /

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Damion Lee, Golden State Warriors. Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images /

Worst Starter No. 16 – Damion Lee

When Damion Lee first made his way onto the Golden State Warriors, most assumed it was some soft nepotism at work. Lee is married to Stephen Curry’s sister, Sydel, and after bouncing around the fringes of the league for a couple of years he signed a two-way contract with Golden State in 2018.

Then Lee showed his stuff, demonstrating his value as a shooter by shooting 39.7 percent from deep that first year. It was the following season, in 2019-20, when Lee saw his turn in the starting lineup. His volume that season spiked and his efficiency plummeted.

Lee started 36 games that year, taking 10.4 shots per game and 4.9 3-pointers; he shot just 41.7 percent from the field and 35.6 percent from 3-point range. Designed to be an off-ball shooter and cutter playing with other creators, on the injury-riddled Warriors that season he was pushed into a role too large for him to thrive. He wasn’t bad — his passing flashed, he still stretched the court, and he competed on defense — but he was asked to do too much.

Lee would settle back into the proper role over the next two seasons, coming off the bench for all but six games and helping the Warriors win the title in 2021-22, appearing in 16 games during the postseason run. An overmatched starter, Lee is an excellent role player, as he is now proving with the contending Phoenix Suns.

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