Should Phoenix Suns' Damion Lee be in 3-point contest All-Star weekend? Stephen Curry thinks so

SAN ANTONIO – Damion Lee is having a career year shooting the basketball from 3.

Suns coach Monty Williams has a theory as to why.

“Maybe when you marry into the Curry family, you shoot the ball well,” Williams said. “Everybody in that family can shoot the ball.”

Leading the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage at 48.4% heading into Saturday's game against the Spurs (14-35), Lee seems like a lock to participate in the 3-point shooting contest on All-Star weekend next month in Salt Lake City, Utah.

His brother-in-law and former teammate thinks so.

“Oh, for sure,” said Warriors All-Star and two-time 3-point contest champion, Stephen Curry, who is considered the greatest shooter ever.

“Usually you want the guy shooing the highest percentage and whatever that volume question is. I think he qualifies there.”

The NBA will likely announce the All-Star Saturday participants on Feb.  9.

“If it happens, it happens,” Lee said. “It’s obviously something that if you get to that point, obviously the respect level is there. It doesn’t matter how many times you get there. If you get there, the respect is there. I’m not trying to think about it too much. I’m not trying to put too much pressure on myself, but if the opportunity presents itself, I would gladly accept it and go from there.”

A career 38.2% shooter from 3, Lee has never participated in the 3-point contest.

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“I don’t want to say that’s not the end goal, but that’s definitely a stepping stone to being known as an elite shooter in this league to have that invite,” Lee added.

Shooting 89-of-184 from 3 this season in his first year in Phoenix (25-25), Lee has already made more 3s than he ever has in a single season in his career and the Suns have 32 games remaining.

“He just has a natural stroke,” Suns wing Torrey Craig said. “Consistent. Shoots the same way every time.”

And there’s that Curry family connection along with fellow ‘Splash’ brother, Warriors forward Klay Thompson, who won the 3-point contest in 2016.

“He played with two of the greatest shooters ever,” Craig continued. “I’m pretty sure he had to shoot at a high level just to be in shooting games with them or compete with them. They always hold you to a high level and I think he’s just shooting at an all-time high right now.”

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Lee has clearly put in the work to go from hitting just 33.7% of his 3s last season to knocking down nearly 50% of them this season, but he’s literally a student of shooting.

“My guilty pleasure is studying guide hands,” Lee said. “I just watch games, watch guys shoot and just study their guide hand. See their release, their shot pocket. How they get into it. One foot. Two foot. Lean. Fade. Stepping into it. Off balance.”

The list of players Lee has studied is a who’s who list of past and present great shooters with clear connections.

• Warriors coach Steve Kerr (won the 1997 3-point contest).

• Stephen Curry (Warriors guard and Lee's brother-in-law).

• Nets guard Seth Curry (Nets guard and Lee’s brother-in-law).

• Nets forward Kevin Durant (Lee’s teammate at Golden State).

• Suns guard Devin Booker (current teammate, 2018 3-point champion).

• Cam Johnson (current teammate, shooting career-best 46.7% from 3 this season).

“A really good shooter, it all starts with your base,” Lee said. “That’s one thing when I was studying and try to lock in onto getting my shot to where I felt it was best for me. Just studying the base, the footwork and how to get into it. Even if you are leaning, how you snap your wrist. How you get the ball off. The feel of the shot. I think Book and Cam Johnson, outside of Steph, Klay and KD, have the best base when it comes to shooting. No matter if they’re leaning a little or fading, their base is unbelievable.”

Lee continued his shooter breakdown, saying Wizards guard Bradley Beal and Heat guard Duncan Robinson have “amazing” guide hands.

“Tobias Harris, even though it’s kind of like a cup, it looks amazing,” Lee said about the 76ers forward. “Steph sometimes shoots with his thumb. Klay leans with his head a little bit. KD’s is like straight up.”

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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.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns' Damion Lee a lock for 3-point contest All-Star weekend?