Clyde Lee
Clyde Wayne Lee is an American former professional basketball player. An All-American at Vanderbilt University, Lee was the No. 3 overall pick in the 1965 NBA draft and was an NBA All-Star, playing ten seasons in the league.
College career
A 6'10" forward/center born in Nashville, Tennessee, Lee attended David Lipscomb Campus School and went on to star at Vanderbilt University in the mid-1960s under Coach Roy Skinner.Lee was known for his rebounding skills and inside scoring prowess. In his junior season, he led the Commodores to their first SEC championship, averaging 22.0 points and 15.5 rebounds. He won his first of two consecutive SEC Player of the Year Award. Vanderbilt reached the NCAA Mideast Regional Finals, where they lost to Michigan, 87-85.
The most points ever scored against Kentucky by a Vanderbilt player was the 41 points by Lee in 1965.
During his senior season, he averaged 22.7 points and 15.8 rebounds, earning All-American honors and the SEC Player of the Year Award. Sportswriter Howell Pesier described him as "the greatest player in Vanderbilt history".
Lee averaged 21.4 points and 15.5 rebounds over his 79-game Vanderbilt career, leading Vanderbilt to 65 victories in three seasons.
Clyde Lee 1964–1966 Jersey Retired |
NBA career
After four years at Vanderbilt, Lee was selected by the San Francisco Warriors with the No. 3 overall pick of the 1966 NBA draft behind Cazzie Russell, No. 1 to the New York Knicks and Dave Bing, Detroit Pistons.In 1966-1967, Lee and the Warriors made the NBA Finals, where they were defeated 4-2 by Wilt Chamberlain and the Philadelphia 76ers. Lee averaged 6.4 points and 7.2 rebounds in the series.
Lee appeared in the 1968 NBA All-Star Game.
On October 4, 1974 Lee was traded by the San Francisco Warriors to the Atlanta Hawks. He completed a trade from February 2, 1970 that sent a 1970 1st round draft pick and a player to be named later to the Atlanta Hawks for Zelmo Beaty. Lee was sent to Atlanta as the player to be named later on October 4, 1974.
After only nine games with Atlanta, on November 8, 1974, Lee was traded by the Hawks with a 1975 3rd round draft pick to the Philadelphia 76ers for Tom Van Arsdale. He then concluded his career in Philadelphia, playing his final two seasons.
A strong rebounder and defender, Lee said, “It's what you might consider the dirty work, but that's the way I'm able to play in the league.” He added, “I don't feel that I'm a good shooter, but then again I don't feel I have to score. I don't look for the shot. I try to get an offensive rebound or keep the ball alive. This is my value to the team."
In ten National Basketball Association seasons, spent with the Warriors, Atlanta Hawks, and Philadelphia 76ers, Lee scored 5,733 points with 7,626 rebounds in 742 games.
Personal
Lee has taught yoga classes at Vanderbilt, after discovering yoga to alleviate pain from basketball injuries.He has served as a color commentator for radio broadcasts of Vanderbilt men's basketball games.
Honors
In 1966, Vanderbilt designated "Clyde Lee Day" on the occasion of Lee's last career home game.Lee was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.
in 2008, Lee was named to the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class.