Jason Lieser

Special to The Courier-Journal

LAS VEGAS - There was a period when getting drafted was all that mattered to former Louisville standout Damion Lee. He didn’t care how late he went or who picked him. He just wanted to hear his name called.



That was three weeks ago, and now that he has moved past the disappointment of going unselected, Lee has redirected his focus toward what he hopes will be a promising NBA career. It’s likely to be an arduous path, and it begins in the summer league with the Miami Heat.



“The draft is just the start of what your career could be,” Lee said. “Do you care more about hearing your name called or about having a long career? I want to find my niche in this league and have a long career.”



Lee averaged 11 points per game for the Heat in the Orlando summer league last week and continued on with them to Las Vegas. Several teams were interested, but he chose Miami because of its reputation for developing unrecognized talent.



While the 15 roster spots for the upcoming season have been filled, Lee hopes to stay in the system with a training camp invitation and possibly a spot on the D-League affiliate in Sioux Falls, S.D.



That could pay off down the road. At 6-foot-6, 203 pounds, Lee has a lot of qualities the Heat look for in a shooting guard. His deep range caught Miami’s attention leading up to the draft, and he has impressed with his defense since arriving in late June.



“He’s given us great minutes,” said Heat assistant Juwan Howard, the head coach of the summer league squad. “We all know he can knock down 3s and make some tough shots, but defensively, wow, he gets into his man and guards very well. The kid has a chance.”

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There are several recent success stories in Miami that make Lee think he might be next. Tyler Johnson went undrafted in 2014 and just signed a four-year, $50 million contract after working his way up from a summer league stint. Josh Richardson is in the mix for a starting job a year after going 40th overall in the draft. Hassan Whiteside was out of the league when the Heat reignited his career, and now he’s their center of the future.



The team just signed summer leaguer Rodney McGruder to a multi-year deal, a reward he earned in part by playing summer league for the Heat last year and starring on their D-League team.



Those are encouraging examples for Lee, who transferred to Louisville after three seasons at Drexel. He averaged 15.9 points per game as a senior while helping the Cardinals go 23-8 in a season mired by an off-court scandal that resulted in a self-imposed postseason ban.



His summer season, which began with two-a-day practices in Miami, has helped him see exactly what’s required to make it at this level. He’s been in practice with second-year players Justise Winslow and Richardson, and most of the teams he’s faced have a handful of current NBA players as well.



“I've always felt I could play in this league, and my confidence went up the last couple years, so now being on this stage and being able to showcase my talent is amazing,” Lee said. “Not everybody gets the chance to do this.”

“It’s just one of those things where I’m trying to find the right fit. I’m not complaining no matter what happens. If I sign or I don’t, it’s more a thing that I worked so hard to get to this point, so why would I stop working now? If Miami wants to bring me in for training camp or some other team does, it’s great. On this stage, I get to be seen by every single team in the NBA.”