Courtney Lee Says Wizards Coach On Floor Distracted Him During Final Play

Courtney Lee is crying foul after the New York Knicks’ loss to the Washington Wizards, but not for anything the Wizards players did on the court.

The Knicks needed a 3-pointer to tie the score on their final possession Thursday night, and Lee appeared to have a chance when Carmelo Anthony found him open in the corner. But rather than take the shot, Lee pump-faked and drove before passing the ball back out. It wasn’t a smart play, as New York didn’t even get a shot up to take a 113-110 loss.

But after the game, Lee made an interesting claim: that Wizards assistant coach Sidney Lowe distracted him by tricking the Knicks guard into thinking he was a player.

“I thought it was one of their players because I was getting ready to shoot and in my peripheral you see a body right there and he is saying, ‘I’m right here! I’m right here! I got your stunt!’” Lee said, via ESPN.com. “Usually in basketball terminology, that is a switch or I am going to jump out, so I shot-faked and drove. I still should have shot the shot.”

A closer look shows Lowe was in fact standing on the court just steps away from Lee.

Lee, one of the NBA’s better 3-point shooters, said he “definitely” had space to get a shot off and probably would’ve taken it if he didn’t hear Lowe.

“I think it’s something they (the NBA) need to take a look at,” Lee added. “… Being a basketball player, you play off of instincts, and if you hear somebody right there, that’s why I try to make the right play. But I still should have shot it.”

Thumbnail photo via Adam Hunger/USA TODAY Sports Images





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