David Lee wanted some dough last summer and didn’t get it.  Did he hold out?  No.  Did he cause a major fuss with the media?  Nope.  Did he whine and bitch when he didn’t make the all-star team last year despite averaging 16 pts and 11 boards on 54% shooting?  As one writer put it…

The money he wanted from the Knicks last summer and didn’t get will be there for him in July. Lee’s preference is to re-sign with the Knicks, but if the club decides to move in a different direction, he expects there won’t be a shortage of suitors.

Damned straight.  David Lee is an All-Star, plain and simple.  He may not be the sexiest player out there but you can be damned sure he’s one of the biggest reasons the Knicks have gone 8-3 in December, yes 8-3.  I haven’t had this much fun being a Knicks fan since Patrick Ewing was on the team.

And if his 18 pts, nearly 11 rebounds on 56% shooting plus over a steal and a healthy 77% from the line aren’t all star numbers than I really don’t know what are.  Who the hell else in the league is averaging that?  Not many players folks.  Not many at all.

And if anyone has watched this guy play this year it’s really hard to tell what is his strong hand.  Yes, you can tell he’s a lefty because that’s how he shoots his free throws but Lee is far and away the most ambidextrous player since Larry Bird, yes Larry Bird.

The guy is taking hook shots with his right hand from close to the elbow.  Plus Lee is developing his outside shot in a big way.  He does not hesitate anymore when he’s sitting out there straight away from about 18 feet.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he develops a three pointer at some point in his career.

There was this vibe, and I had this vibe, that Lee was good but not great.  Kind of like that really hard working player who doesn’t have that much skill.  And granted I still see that in him at times, meaning Lee is scrappy.  He’ll do what he can out there and he’s not the greatest one on one guy.  And when players don’t necessarily have those skills they’re perceived as not being “stars.”

Yeah well that’s all bullshit.  Because when you have an outside shot like Lee is developing it doesn’t matter in the least.  His game has opened up and players are gonna start having to guard him out there which is gonna be great news for swingmen like Gallinari and Duhon to nail open threes.

I’m loving the Knicks right now.  They’re showing great teamwork and if anyone deserves that All-Star nod on this team, it’s David Lee.

Jesus Dwight Howard, get a jump shot will ya?