Phoenix native Saben Lee makes impact in Suns' loss to Kings on day he joined training camp

The window of opportunity for many players is too short to make a lasting first impression in NBA training camps.

Saben Lee made an solid one just 24 hours after the team announced him and fellow Phoenix native Adonis Arms were their latest two camp invitees. They officially waived guard Frank Jackson, one of their first two non-guaranteed contract players Wednesday. The other is Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot.

Lee, a 6-foot-2 point guard, scored nine points (2-of-4 shooting, was 4-for-4 FTs), added three assists, one rebound, got a steal in just over 14 minutes played in the Sun's loss to Sacramento Wednesday night, the same day he joined them.

However, league sources told USA Today's HoopsHype that Lee was waived by the Suns the next day.

“It was a quick turnaround," Lee said to The Republic after the game. "I just got the call saying that I had an opportunity here with Phoenix and I was really grateful, really excited for it being a hometown kid."

There wasn't much time to prepare before the game.

"Really just in practice and shootaround watching a lot of film, running through a little bit of the sets, and going out there and just impacting the game.”

Four of the Suns starters were rested, and both Cam Johnson and Cameron Payne were out with hand injuries, Wednesday's game against the Kings was vital for their bench to impress the crowd and the Suns coaching staff in their final preseason game.

Lee subbed in for Wednesday's starter Torrey Craig near the two minute mark in the third quarter and finished that period with five points, hitting two of first three shots including a 3 on an assist from their power forward Jock Landale, and a layup.

Then Lee stayed in for the entire fourth quarter. The Suns were down 83-76 to start the final period, and Lee made several key plays to spark their 13-5 run, including an assist to backup big Bismack Biyombo, hit two free throws to take a 90-88 at 7:46 left to play.

Lee got his steal two minutes later when the score was tied at 94, sank two more free throws as the Suns to shaved Sacramento's lead to six at 2:44, got his final two assists on jumpers from Duane Washington Jr. (game-high 31 points) and Ish Wainright's 3 within a minute between the two and one minute marks when the Suns went on a 7-3 run.

In addition, Lee caused a charge foul on Kings big Neemias Queta with 46 seconds left, which led to Luwawu-Cabarrot's lone 3 made to cut the lead to 105-104, which became the final score.

“I just wanted to come in and apply pressure on the defensive end first, then I know the offense would come," Lee said. "But I really just wanted to apply pressure on defense, push the pace, and just do what I can and the little things to try and get the win.”

Suns coach Monty Williams said in the postgame Lee's performance within that short time after meeting him earlier this day reflects the third-year player's moxie.

“It’s pretty cool. It says a lot about him as a person since (Wednesday) morning,” Williams said. “He was jacked up and eager to be here, be on the team and get a chance to play."

Williams added that Lee's journey to follow his dream to stay in the NBA with little notice to come in and play with his team after just one practice makes tougher than expected.

“I’m sure in the first half, you know he was probably chomping at the bit, so he probably didn’t know he was going to go in. But it says a lot about his character. You gotta be really tough to walk that road that he’s walked," Williams said.

"From year to year, you don’t know if you’re gonna have a job. You’re looking for a 10-day (contact), you’re looking for an opportunity just to be in a camp, and to have his attitude from the time I met him (Wednesday) morning, I’m like, ‘Man, this kid’s made of some stuff,’ and you saw it (against the Kings). He jumped right out there and started making plays. Again, it’s gratifying to see guys have success, especially when you’ve walked the road he’s walked.”

Lee was one of The Republic's 2017 All-Arizona Player of the Year finalists from Tempe Corona del Sol.

Lee was a three-year starter at Vanderbilt, and was an All-SEC Second Team selection as a junior when he declared for the draft in 2020. He was taken by the Utah Jazz as the second round's 38th pick that year, and was traded to Detroit near the start of the 2020-21 season. Lee got a two-way deal when he joined the Pistons and played all of last season with their G League team Motor City Cruise.

He was traded with Kelly Olynyk and Jarred Vanderbilt to the Utah Jazz in Detroit's deal for Bojan Bogdanovic, on Sept. 26 and was waived on Sunday.

Lee said he was at his father’s house in Phoenix when got the phone call from his agent Darren Matsubara about being invite to the Suns' camp.

“It’s an audition everywhere. It’s the interview," Lee said. "Just making sure that every opportunity you get you make the most of it in trying to make an impression. That’s kind of my mindset going throughout this process.”

He doesn't find anything negative about being sent around the nation to play in the NBA. It's all part of his plan.

“I didn’t really have too much pressure," Lee said. "I just want to go out there, play my game and play hard. And just know that wherever the chips lie that I’m cool with that.”

Have tips for us? Reach the reporter at dana.scott@azcentral.com or at 480-486-4721. Follow his Twitter @iam_DanaScott.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix native Saben Lee impresses Monty Williams in Suns loss to Kings