Stephen Curry had more than a teammate’s farewell for Damion Lee.
After Lee announced his retirement from basketball, Curry posted a tribute on his Instagram Story calling Lee “my brother,” “teammate” and “friend,” while congratulating him on “a helluva run.” Curry also wrote that Lee’s “next chapter is greater” and tagged Lee in the message.
The post added a personal layer to Lee’s retirement. Lee was not just another former Golden State Warriors role player from the franchise’s 2022 championship team. He was part of Curry’s inner circle, both on and off the floor, and his NBA story ran through Golden State at one of the most meaningful points of the Warriors’ dynasty.
Lee announced his retirement in an Instagram post after a professional career that included stops with the Atlanta Hawks, Warriors and Phoenix Suns. The Warriors also saluted Lee after the announcement, noting that he suited up for Golden State from 2018 to 2022 and calling him “forever a champion in the Bay.”
HeavySteph Curry Sent A Heartfelt Retirement Message to Damion Lee.
Former Golden State Warriors Champion Damion Lee Retired From Basketball and Steph Curry Sent a Heartfelt Message
Lee’s retirement closes the book on a career that was built more on persistence than draft-night hype.
The 6-foot-6 guard went undrafted after playing college basketball at Drexel and Louisville, then worked his way through the G League before establishing himself as an NBA contributor. NBA.com lists Lee with career averages of 7.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.
His best NBA stretch came with the Warriors, where he became a trusted rotation option during a period that included Golden State’s reset after the 2019 Finals and its return to championship form in 2022. Lee appeared in 63 regular-season games for the Warriors during the 2021-22 season, when Golden State went on to beat the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
That context is what made Curry’s message resonate. Lee was not one of the stars of that title team, but Warriors fans will remember him as part of the group that helped bridge eras: from the injury-hit seasons after Kevin Durant’s departure to the fourth Curry-Klay Thompson-Draymond Green championship.
Lee later played for the Suns, but injuries changed the back half of his career. He missed the entire 2023-24 season after undergoing right meniscus surgery, then returned to Phoenix for the 2024-25 season before continuing his career overseas.
That made Curry’s farewell feel less like a casual social media nod and more like recognition of the full road Lee traveled. The message was short, but it hit the main points: family, friendship, teammateship and respect.
Steph and Damion Lee’s Relationship Explained
Curry and Lee’s connection goes beyond the Warriors.
Lee is married to Sydel Curry-Lee, Stephen Curry’s younger sister, making him Curry’s brother-in-law. ESPN reported in 2018 that Lee was engaged to Curry’s sister when he was set to sign a two-way contract with Golden State.
That family connection became part of Lee’s public identity with the Warriors, but Lee pushed back on the idea that it defined him as a player. In 2019, Lee told reporters, “At the end of the day, my name is Damion Lee,” while emphasizing that he had been playing basketball long before marrying into the Curry family.
Curry’s tribute acknowledged both sides of the relationship. “My brother” spoke to family. “Teammate” spoke to the Warriors years. “Friend” spoke to the bond underneath both.
For Warriors fans, Lee’s retirement is also a reminder of how many players helped shape the edges of Golden State’s 2022 title team. Curry, Thompson and Green remain the faces of that era, but that championship was also built by players like Lee, Gary Payton II, Otto Porter Jr., Nemanja Bjelica, Juan Toscano-Anderson and others who filled specific roles around the stars.
Lee’s NBA résumé will not be measured by All-Star appearances or individual awards. It will be measured by the harder route: undrafted to the league, G League to rotation player, role player to NBA champion.
Curry’s message captured that without needing many words.
For Lee, retirement starts the next chapter. For Curry and the Warriors, it was a chance to publicly salute someone who was part of both the family and the dynasty.
Steph Curry Sends Heartfelt Retirement Message to Golden State Warriors Champ