David Lee injured the middle finger on his right hand during Team USA practice Tuesday and was to return to San Francisco to be examined by Dr. Bill Green.
The former Knick and current Golden State Warriors forward told ESPN he jammed his finger against the bottom of the backboard while attempting to block a shot.
“I looked down, and my finger was completely turned to the side,” he told ESPN. “It’s possibly a tendon or a dislocation of some sort. It’s something I’ve got to go have looked at either way.
“Hopefully it’s something I can splint up and play with. That’s up to the doctors to decide.”
Lee inked a six-year, $80 million contract with New York and was then shipped to Golden State in a sign-and-trade for Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf and Kelenna Azubuike.
Lee and Golden State teammate Seth Curry are among 20 players trying out for the U.S. national team that will compete in the World Championship in Istanbul, Turkey next month.
Ironically, the man who replaced Lee in New York — Amar’e Stoudemire — also is off of Team USA because of insurance issues related to his surgically repaired left knee.
Lee was expected to return to Las Vegas and re-join the team later Wednesday.
(Photos courtesy NBA.com)
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