Damion Lee out 10-14 days under COVID-19 protocols

Warriors reserve wing Damion Lee will miss at least 10-14 days of action as he enters the NBA’s coronavirus health and safety protocols, tweets Anthony Slater of The Athletic.

Slater notes that the 28-year-old Lee has been a big help for the Warriors’ depleted backcourt. Across 57 games (1 start), Lee is averaging 6.5 PPG and 3.2 RPG across 18.9 MPG this season, while connecting on 39.7% of his 3.4 three-point looks per night.

Lee’s absence could spell trouble for a team already battling serious rotational absences. Starting center James Wiseman is out for the year after suffering a meniscus tear earlier this month. Juan Toscano-Anderson remains in the league’s concussion protocols, and of course maximum-salaried starting swingman Klay Thompson is missing his second straight full season as he recuperates from an Achilles tear.

Every win counts at this point in the season for the scrappy Warriors. At 29-30, Golden State is currently the ninth seed in the crowded Western Conference, mere percentage points better then the tenth-seeded Spurs.

“And for those wondering, I did get the [coronavirus] vaccine and continued to practice the proper safety protocols,” Lee mentioned in a tweet soon after the news of his absence was announced. Whether or not he himself contracted COVID-19 or has entered protocols after coming into contact with someone who later tested positive is unclear.