Corona del Sol graduate Saben Lee scores eight points in Suns regular season debut
MINNEAPOLIS – Saben Lee showed Suns coach Monty Williams more than what he knew about him upon arrival during the preseason.
“I loved his grit, his defense and he did a few things offensively that I didn't know he could do, " Williams said.
At that time, Phoenix brought in Lee and Adonis Arms as training camp invites to help handle resting Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges for its final preseason game.
The Suns were also down Dario Saric, who was out for the birth of his first child, and injured players Cam Johnson, Cameron Payne and Landry Shamet. Lee scored nine points in 14 minutes against Sacramento.
Months later, Lee signed a 10-day contract Wednesday for essentially the same reason, as Booker (groin), Payne (foot), Paul (hip), Johnson (knee), Shamet (hip) and Ayton (ankle) are all out with injuries.
"I loved his grit, his defense and he did a few things offensively that I didn't know he could do."
Monty Williams on Saben Lee, who is back with #Suns on 10-day. Played one preseason game for Phoenix. pic.twitter.com/BwMdq9pzNi— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 12, 2023
“We liked him earlier in the year,” Williams said about Lee. “Had no idea we’d be in this position where we’d need him back.”
The Suns (21-22) continue their four-game road trip Friday at Minnesota (20-22) and end it Monday at Memphis on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Ayton is listed as questionable for Friday's game.
“I’m excited to be here for another opportunity,” Lee said. “Just want to go out there and continue to play some defense and do what I can to help the team.”
Signing Lee gave the Suns 10 available players for Wednesday’s game at Denver.
Phoenix lost, 126-97, but Lee, a Corona del Sol graduate who grew up in Phoenix, posted eight points, four assists and three rebounds in 15 minutes of his regular season debut with the Suns.
In his third NBA season, Lee spent his first two with Detroit and played two games with Philadelphia this season.
“It’s good to have another body down there,” Williams said. “When I look down there and see more coaches than players when I’m in the game, and I’m looking at the bench, I’m like, this is, yeah, I’ll stop there.”
Williams didn’t provide any update Wednesday on Paul, who along with Payne and Booker hasn’t been with the team on the road trip. Payne and Booker are scheduled to be re-evaluated later this month.
Johnson is with the team but he hasn’t played since tearing his right meniscus Nov. 4 against Portland. The Suns starting four underwent a trim procedure on the ligament to put him on a two-month timetable to return, but Williams said Johnson still hasn’t done any contact work.
“He’s been on the court a little bit,” Williams said. “He’s played a little bit of 1-on-1, but that’s about it.”
When asked if he needs to see Johnson in contact situations before playing him, Williams said, “That’s not my decision. I get the OK from medical. I’ll see him, but I don’t make that determination.”
Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.
Support local journalism. Start your online subscription.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Saben Lee signs 10-day, scores eight points in Suns regular season debut
