Getty
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 25: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors greets Damion Lee #10 of the Phoenix Suns following the NBA game at Footprint Center on October 25, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Warriors 134-105. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Damion Lee, who was an NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors, is signing with a team in Israel.
Lee and Ironi Ness Ziona shared a joint Instagram post on Aug. 23. The post translated to English says, “Welcome Damion! (orange heart emoji) The NBA champion lands in the heart of the colony.”
The announcement means that Warriors star Steph Curry, more so his sister, will likely be spending some time in the Middle East.
Damion Lee had Productive Stretches During 7-Year NBA Career
Lee, 32-year-old shooting guard, who played college ball at Drexel and Louisville, most recently played in the NBA last season for the Phoenix Suns.
He went undrafted in the 2016 NBA draft, spent summer league and preseason time with the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics before moving to the NBA development league.
Lee signed two 10-day contracts with the Atlanta Hawks in March 2018, before being extended for the remainder of the season. He joined the Warriors in July 2018.
Lee’s most productive period came during his four years with Golden State, where he established a reliable bench role and helped the team capture the 2022 NBA title over the Celtics.
In his best statistical season, 2019-2020, Lee averaged 12.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 42% from the field. He has 7-year career averages of 7.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 43.3% from the field and 37.4% from the three-point range in 315 games.
Damion Lee and Steph Curry Are Related to Each Other
Lee is Curry’s brother-in-law as he is married to Curry’s sister, Sydel Curry-Lee. The couple have three children. Their first two, Daxon and Daryn, were conceived through in vitro fertilization, or IVF, the couple has shared publicly. But their third, baby Dacen, born in May, was an unexpected natural conception.
GettySAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 20: Stephen Curry #30 and Damion Lee #1 of the Golden State Warriors celebrate with the NBA Championship Trophy and Curry’s NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award during the Golden State Warriors Victory Parade on June 20, 2022 in San Francisco, California. The Golden State Warriors beat the Boston Celtics 4-2 to win the 2022 NBA Finals. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Curry-Lee, a YouTuber, posts life highlights to Instagram, including a post two years ago showing appreciation for Lee. “I will never take for granted the person you are and the strength you give me through every phase of life we’ve been through together,” she wrote. “You make me feel beautiful and loved in ways I never knew were possible. My greatest flex is making you the father of our children 1/1!”
Notable Free Agents Remain Available Less Than 2 Months From Season
With Lee headed to Ness Ziona, there continues to be several free agents this summer that remained unsigned. The 2025-26 NBA season tips off on Oct. 21 with the return of the NBA on NBC.
Russell Westbrook is still one of the big names out there, and it looks like he’s headed to the Sacramento Kings, according to ESPN.
Former All-Star Ben Simmons has caught some attention, with the Warriors, New York Knicks, and Celtics all looking into the possibility of adding him.
Malik Beasley, recently cleared in a federal gambling investigation, is back on the free-agent market after a three-year, $42 million offer from the Detroit Pistons—where he played last season—was pulled. His return has caught the eye of several teams seeking more shooting depth.
Beyond the big names, role players like Precious Achiuwa, Cameron Payne, Garrison Mathews, and Trey Lyles are still on the market and could make solid additions.
Drake Bentley is an award-winning investigative journalist and breaking news reporter for Heavy, covering the NFL, NBA, legal affairs, and entertainment. He’s covered the NBA Finals, NFL Draft, and major trending stories since 2019. More about Drake Bentley
