New York Knicks: Who stepped up against the Brooklyn Nets on Jan. 30?

Courtney Lee

Of all the free agent signings that Phil Jackson committed to during his tenure, few have been as rewarding as that of Courtney Lee. Lee has been a leader in the locker room and the epitome of consistency on the court.

Perhaps the only Jackson-era signee whom New York Knicks fans universally appreciate, Lee continued to prove his value against the Nets.

Lee wasn’t especially efficient, but he was a vocal leader on the court for the Knicks. He helped direct traffic on defense and keep the ball in motion on offense, even stepping up to bury shots of his own when he needed to.

Say what you will about his shooting performance, but the player with a team-high +/- tends to be someone who deserves to make this list.

Lee finished with 12 points, two assists, and a rebound in a game-high 31 minutes of court time. He shot just 3-of-10 from the field, but went 2-of-4 from beyond the three-point line and 4-of-5 at the free throw line.

Lee’s contributions don’t always show up in the box score, but against the Nets, he did an excellent job of blending production with leadership on both ends of the floor.