Memphis Grizzlies Throwback: 4 best role players in ‘Core 4’ era
No. 2: Courtney Lee
Too bad he’s stuck in New York now, because he’s truly one of the most underrated players in the league. He backed that up with his play in Memphis.
More from Grizzlies All-Time Lists
- 5 players the Grizzlies never should have signed
- 5 of Memphis Grizzlies’ worst free agency signings of all time
- Building the Memphis Grizzlies’ all-time draft bust starting lineup
- The 3 all-time best Memphis Grizzlies trades in franchise history
- Memphis Grizzlies: Building an all-time starting lineup for the modern NBA
During his run with the Grizzlies, he a solid fit alongside the ‘Core 4’ in the starting 5. With Tony Allen on the wing, Courtney Lee provided the team with hard defense, but more importantly he spaced the floor.
He has one of the smoothest jumpers in the game, but he wasn’t just a spot-up shooter. Lee had a nice pump-fake and could pull up from mid-range with ease.
Because of his 3-and-D abilities, he was the perfect fit to help the Grizzlies modernize their offense. If they could’ve gotten more shot attempts and points from him, Lee would’ve become an essential player for this team. Essential enough not to get traded for PJ Hairston, Birdman and a slew of second-round picks.