As the victory-challenged Warriors have withered on the vine late in the season, it shouldn't be overlooked that Lee has somehow kicked his game up a notch. Entering Saturday night's game, the Warriors had lost seven of eight and 12 of 15, but you wouldn't guess that by Lee's numbers. He had logged seven straight games of 20-plus points -- a career-tying stretch -- and was averaging 26.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists while playing 40.3 minutes a game over that period.
While Lee's play might be going unnoticed by the outside world, it hasn't escaped the attention of coach Mark Jackson.
"He's paid a lot of money to play the game of basketball, but I've played this game and I've covered this game, and when you're playing for what seems to be nothing, some guys don't bring it," Jackson said. "So I don't take for granted having a star player finishing the right way, sending a message."
Lee was averaging 20.2 points a game for the season entering play Saturday, along with 9.6 rebounds. Only three players in the NBA have 20-10 numbers -- Orlando's Dwight Howard, Minnesota's Kevin Love and the Los Angeles Clippers' Blake Griffin -- so Lee is putting himself close to some pretty exclusive company.
Lee said he has had a purpose in trying to elevate his game even though his team doesn't have a whole to show for it.
"For me right now, it's about being a leader," he said. "We're going to have a lot of guys coming back next year, and we have a chance to have a really spectacular team. So it's about proving to the guys that are here what kind of character I have and that I'm going to be a guy that, no matter what the situation, I'm always going to be ready to go."
Lee's inspired play gives Jackson a reason to be excited about the future.
"The same way we talk about a process collectively, I think at these moments, individuals tell on themselves -- whether they're in it to win it as a team or whether they're in it for their own personal satisfaction," Jackson said. "David Lee has had an outstanding year, and I'm glad he's on my team. I'm proud of him."
Lee, who battled an elbow injury throughout most of last season, has been healthy all year. And he believes he's having his best season as a result.
"No question about it, even better than the All-Star season in New York," he said. "I feel like offensively, I've made strides. I was never a guy you could isolate on the block and I could score. I think that's changed this year. I think I'm being a better leader than I was then. Unfortunately, with a lot of the injuries, it couldn't always translate into a better situation for the team."
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