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5 worst starters of the Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard era

By Harrison Brown

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 13: Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic walks off the court during the game against the Miami Heat at Amway Center on March 13, 2012 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 13: Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic walks off the court during the game against the Miami Heat at Amway Center on March 13, 2012 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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Courtney Lee, Orlando Magic
Courtney Lee remains a huge fan favorite for Orlando Magic fans. Even though the rookie played like a rookie for much of is lone season. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

5 worst starters of the Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard era

Courtney Lee (2009)

42 starts, 8.4 PPG, 52.6% eFG%, 40.4% 3FG%

The Orlando Magic fan base had little expectations for Courtney Lee when he was drafted 22nd overall in the 2008 NBA Draft. But coach Stan Van Gundy did and quickly found a way to get him in the game.

Lee started the fourth most games for Orlando in his rookie season and replaced Maurice Evans as the starting shooting guard as the team propelled itself into title contention.

The Magic had other options to start like veterans Keith Bogans and Mickael Pietrus. But Van Gundy appreciated what they contributed to the team coming off the bench. By mid-season, the rookie guard was starting and contributing timely plays on both ends of the floor.

Lee could not bring much of an offensive spark like Bogans and Pietrus could off the bench, but he was a good enough shooter that Van Gundy planted him in the starting unit.

He was a spot-up shooter similar to Evans, but he shot 40.4 percent from three which was second-best behind Jameer Nelson in the rotation. Nelson, of course, missed most of the second half of the season with a shoulder injury before returning for the NBA Finals.

The team also had enough offensive tools to let Lee focus on defense and playing with effort. Courtney Lee was a much better option to defend opposing guards than Keith Bogans or J.J. Redick.

He averaged 1.0 steals per contest, which does not seem like a lot, but was important for a team that finished 22nd in the NBA in steals.

He was a rookie and still had growing pains. But he quickly found his place within the Magic ecosystem.

Lee was a bona fide scorer who played four seasons at Western Kentucky and averaged more than 20 points per game in college so he is far different than the average rookie in today’s NBA, but he had inconsistency shooting the basketball.

This was obvious in the 21 games he played in the playoff that year, shooting 43.5 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from three.

The underwhelming shooting in the playoffs is justifiable for a rookie’s first appearance in the playoffs and having his sinus fractured in the first round against Philadelphia.

Lee is most famous in a Magic uniform for getting the assignment of guarding Kobe Bryant in the NBA Finals. This was no job for a rookie and was a deciding factor in the series, but Lee was impressive nonetheless in his lone season in Orlando.

There are a lot of what-ifs with that roster but one that can be considered is how would that series change if General Manager Otis Smith brought in another shooting guard to start for the Magic.

Even though he only played one season in pinstripes, the NBA noticed Lee was an ascending talent and was one of the main pieces that brought former All-Star Vince Carter to Orlando.

Lee went on to play 12 seasons for eight different franchises.