It's a bittersweet day in the Curry household as former Golden State Warriors guard Damion Lee officially hangs up his sneakers. The 33-year-old sharpshooter, who became a fan favorite during his four seasons with the Dubs (2018–2022) and earned an NBA championship ring in 2022, announced his retirement from professional basketball this week.
Lee's journey to the NBA was anything but conventional. After going undrafted out of Drexel and Louisville, he grinded his way onto the Atlanta Hawks roster for his rookie season before finding a true home in the Bay Area. His breakout year saw him average 12.7 points per game, but last season he saw his role diminish to just 3.3 points in limited minutes. A recent attempt to play internationally ultimately led him to close this chapter of his life.
The announcement sparked an outpouring of love from the basketball world—especially from those closest to the Curry family. The Warriors organization led the tributes with a heartfelt social media post: "Forever a champion in the Bay. @dami0nlee, who suited up for the Dubs from 2018 to 2022, announced today that he is retiring from professional basketball. Wishing him all the best in his next chapter."
Stephen Curry, ever the man of few words in moments like these, kept his response simple but powerful—dropping just a raised hands emoji in the comments. Cameron Brink, Steph's god-sister and co-host of the "Straight to Cam" podcast alongside Sydel Curry-Lee (Damion's wife), shared her pride with a string of heart emojis.
In his own emotional retirement post, Lee reflected on the journey that seemed almost impossible at times. "A Story of Adversity and Comebacks! What a career, don't even know where to start but I'm grateful for it all!" he wrote. "These past 15 years have flown by but I am grateful for what the game has given me and I hope one day I can pay it forward!" He saved special thanks for his mother, who believed in him before he believed in himself, and for his wife and kids, who remained his "why and reason when I thought there wasn't one."
As Lee turns the page to whatever comes next, the basketball community is reminded that sometimes the most inspiring stories aren't the ones that start with a lottery pick—they're the ones built on perseverance, family, and an unshakable belief in the journey.