Why Jazz star Donovan Mitchell respects Warriors' Damion Lee so much

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In 2015-16, the Warriors went 73-9 and Steph Curry became the first unanimous MVP in NBA history.

It's safe to assume most Dubs fans didn't pay too much attention to college hoops that year. So they might not know that Golden State guard Damion Lee and Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell were teammates at Louisville that season.

Lee -- a redshirt senior -- averaged a team-best 15.9 points per game, while Mitchell -- a freshman -- averaged 7.4 points off the bench.

After the Jazz beat the Warriors at Chase Center on Jan. 22, Mitchell gave an awesome quote about Lee to Marcus Thompson of The Athletic:

"He’s a motherfu--er for real. He’s a guy that wants to go out there and hoop and be the best for his team and I respect that about him for sure.”

Lee has overcome two ACL tears -- one on Nov. 27, 2013 and the other on Dec. 23, 2016 -- to get to this point in his career.

He also broke the same bone in his right hand twice during his basketball journey.

But none of these injuries could derail him.

[RELATED: Warriors coach says team 'having more fun' with Wiggins]

Lee is averaging 12.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists this season, scoring 20 or more points seven times.

“He’s improved a ton,” assistant general manager Kirk Lacob told Thompson. “Worked his a-- off.”

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