Michael Lee (basketball, born 1986)
Michael Lee | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 5, 1986 United States |
| Occupation | Professional basketball player (retired) |
| Years active | 2008–2016 |
| Known for | Power forward in professional basketball |
Michael Rahjoan Lee (born June 5, 1986) is a retired American professional basketball athlete who mainly played as a power forward.
Early career
Lee completed his high school education at Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, Florida. He then advanced to collegiate basketball at St. Bonaventure University, where over four seasons he maintained averages of 12.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, culminating in a senior year with 17.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per contest.
Professional career
After going undrafted in the 2008 NBA draft, Lee began his professional journey with France’s Cholet Basket, although an injury limited him to just two appearances before his release. In early 2009, he signed with Croatian club KK Split. The following 2009–10 season saw him compete for Hungary’s Albacomp.
In October 2010, Lee joined Serbian team Radnički Kragujevac, delivering averages of 19.6 points per game in the Adriatic League and 14.0 points in the domestic Serbian competition. By July 2011, he moved to Ukrainian side BC Donetsk, where he contributed to securing the Ukrainian League championship in 2012.
Lee took part in the 2012 NBA Summer League representing the Sacramento Kings, starting in three out of five games and posting averages of 5.8 points and 2.0 rebounds over 16.4 minutes per game. He returned to Ukraine for the 2012–13 season, joining Politekhnika-Halychyna.
On September 30, 2013, Lee signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers but was waived less than three weeks later on October 19. Subsequently, he was acquired by the NBA Development League’s Canton Charge in November 2013 and was traded to the Delaware 87ers in January 2014.
In October 2014, Lee inked a deal with France’s SOMB Boulogne-sur-Mer competing in the LNB Pro A. Midway through the season, in January 2015, he transferred to Hungary’s Szolnoki Olaj, where he helped capture both the Hungarian League championship and Cup that year.
On January 18, 2016, Lee signed with Romanian club BCM U Pitești, participating in the Romanian Liga Națională competition.