For Damion Lee, the 2024 Phoenix Suns’ preseason opener will forever remain special. Despite several odds—that included an injury, a surgery and frequent visits to a mental health professional—the 31-year-old was back on the court after 514 days with 4:12 left in the third quarter, having missed the entire 2023-24 season. And, boy, was he back with a bang! The shooting guard scored 10 points, going 2-of-3 from 3, and majorly contributed to his team’s 118-114 victory on October 6. However, his role wasn’t limited to just scoring points, as he was also seen encouraging team rookies Oso Ighodaro and Ryan Dunn, when they were on the court together. Hence, it was only natural that his loved ones jumped to social media to congratulate Lee.

From his wife Sydel Lee-Curry, to Stephen Curry, there was no dearth of love. Even the Curry’s family friend, Michelle Bain-Brink—mother of WNBA player Cameron Brink—couldn’t hold back her emotions, about which we’ll tell you. But before that…

Did you know Cameron Brink and Stephen Curry have known each other since they were toddlers? The duo’s parents, Greg & Michelle Brink, and Sonya & Dell Curry, build a solid friendship back when they were enrolled at Virginia Tech. In fact, Michelle and Sonya were roommates and played basketball and volleyball, respectively. The quartet even shared a dorm, with Greg and Dell living in the men’s wing. While Curry’s parents divorced in 2021 after 33 years of marriage, the families still remain close. Notably, the couples are god-parents to each others kids.

Hence, when Sydel wrote some endearing words for her husband—whom she married in 2018 and shares two kids with—Momma Brink soon joined the bandwagon. “Hey hey hey! My main man takes the court today for the first time over a year [insert the holding-back-tears emoji] it’s a preseason game, yeah, but we’re taking ALLLL the wins after all the hard work, persistence, & up’s and downs. I ask anyone who sees this & a believer to please lift Damion (& my bros) up in prayer. For a safe and healthy season. For mental strength to accomplish all they want to accomplish this season! Amen amen! let’s goooo honey!” she wrote on Instagram Stories on October 6, tagging Damion Lee.

Soon after, Michelle shared Curry’s update on her Instagram Stories, and wrote: “I’m not crying- your crying,” followed by a crying-a-river emoji and two shining pink hearts. She didn’t forget to tag both Sydel Lee-Curry and her husband. And just two hours later, Stephen Curry also took to the social media platform to share his words of encouragement…

As Damion Lee took to Instagram to announce his return to the world, writing, “17 months later … Never take it for granted! FAITH > fear”, Curry shared the post on his IG Stories, writing, “Welcome back!!!” Notably, Lee went into a downward spiral of self-doubt after missing out the last season—he suffered from depression and sought out a therapist. However, now as he’s back to his thriving self, it was only fitting that player would throw light on the stigma surrounding mental health in his community. “I think there are times we as males, especially Black males, in this society feel like therapy isn’t a way…We go to the barber shop, that’s therapy. We listen to music, that’s therapy. We play sports, that’s therapy, but there are ways of getting out of your own mind and getting out of your own head that are needed and should be encouraged,” he said in a pre-game media presser on October 30.

In a moment like this, why don’t we go back in time to the fateful day when Damion Lee suffered the injury?

The day everything went south for Damion Lee

The Louisville alum had finally managed to get out of the Golden State Warriors in 2022. No, don’t worry. It wasn’t because he had a terrible time with the team. Rather, it was more for peace of mind. There is only so much of the ‘you’re with the Warriors only because of your brother-in-law’ digs you can take. But in his four years with the Dubs, Lee averaged 8.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 43.7% from the field and 36.6% from the three-point line.

However, when the Suns offered him a two-year deal with a player option for the second year, Damion took it. In his first season with Phoenix, Lee made his case to earn a regular rotation spot, having played a career-high 74 games and hitting 44.5% from the deep – another career high, as well.

However, in a preseason workout session in 2023, before training camp opened, the man suffered a brutal right knee meniscus injury. As was usual in the case of a meniscus, Damion Lee went to get a standard evaluation. However, they had bad news to deliver.

It wasn’t a simple meniscus injury (nothing simple about that, but you will understand why in a moment), but rather a root tear. But that was not all there was to it. A root tear turned into a double root tear, which meant the surgery was a rare double posterior root repair of his meniscus. In Lee’s own words, “Essentially, my meniscus tore off the bone.” 

Just to give you an idea of what the man came back from, here’s what Dr. Armando Vidal, MD (knee, shoulder, and sports medicine specialist), former head team physician for the Nuggets said. “It can completely destabilize the shock absorbing function in the knee and can lead to fractures, early onset of arthritis and even osteonecrosis (bone death).”

Clearly, D-Lee’s return was nothing short of miraculous! But more importantly, as his teammate, Bradley Beal pointed out, “that fight and belief in himself and faith to overcome, that’s exemplary. Just speaks of his character, his courage.”

Welcome back, Damion Lee! Here’s to a safe and healthy season.