He was selected as the sixth overall pick in the 1972 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks.

Lee played four seasons with the Marshall University Thundering Herd, with whom he averaged 23.9 points and 11.3 rebounds per game.

[1] In 1985, he was inducted into the Marshall Hall of Fame,[2] and in 2003 he had his number retired.

Before the start of the 1974–1975 NBA season, Lee was traded to the New Orleans Jazz with a 1975 NBA draft first-round pick for Steve Kuberski and a second round pick in 1975.

Lee has a brother who played basketball at Marshall as well named, Eugene.