New York Knicks: Who stepped up against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Nov. 13?

Courtney Lee

With no hyperbole whatsoever, the New York Knicks have been able to turn to Courtney Lee for a bit of everything. Whether it’s a big shot, a defensive stop, or guidance from a facilitating perspective, Lee has done it all for the Knicks in 2017-18.

There was talk of the Knicks needing to trade Lee during the 2017 offseason, but the front office appears to have made the right decision to keep him on board.

Lee did just about everything he could, providing 15 points, four rebounds, one assist, and two steals in 37 minutes of action. He shot 6-of-12 from the field, 2-of-5 from beyond the arc, and 1-of-1 from the free throw line in yet another efficient showing.

Beyond the numbers, Lee locked in on defense and dialed up a number of clutch plays during what should have been a Knicks victory, but instead became a learning experience.

Lee stepped in to defend his rookie, Frank Ntilikina, when LeBron James attempted to punk him. He stepped up with a clutch three in the fourth quarter, limited James’ scoring during that same quarter, and continued to display smart shot selection.

This game won’t be remembered fondly in the short-term, but Lee proved once again why he’s such a valuable player for this otherwise inexperienced team.