For Lee, the Difference Is Clear as Knight and Day

ANAHEIM — Stanford point guard Arthur Lee is no Brevin Knight. He knows he never will be.

Still . . .

“Every game, I tell myself not to try to be like him,” Lee said. “But every game, I start thinking about how he used to play and try to emulate him. That’s when I get in trouble.”

Lee, a 6-foot junior, was in and out of it Saturday in Stanford’s 76-74 victory over No. 21 Georgia at the Pond. He had 14 points and three assists. He also had a gaffe--an enormous one with 52 seconds left and the No. 12 Cardinal trailing, 74-73.

Mark Madsen had posted up, then kicked the ball out to Lee on the wing. He took one step back with his right foot and nearly stomped on Stanford Coach Mike Montgomery’s toes.

“The whistle blew and I thought my coach had called a time out,” Lee said. “I always know where the sideline is, but I was trying to give Mark a little more space to work. I had no idea where I was out of bounds.”

It became something Lee could smile sheepishly about after Madsen tipped in the game-winner with nine seconds left. Still, it was another lesson for the guy trying to fill you-know-who’s shoes.

Lee is asked often about replacing Knight, now with the Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s a legitimate question, considering how much Knight’s name is spread across Stanford’s record book.

“Everyone wants to know how we were going to do without Brevin,” Lee said. “I felt we play more like a unit. We rely on each other.”

It’s Lee, though, who is expected to make it run like a unit. If nothing else, he received the proper training. He guarded Knight, and vice versa, in practice the last two seasons.

Stanford opponents can empathize with him. At least they only had to face Knight once, maybe twice a season. Lee had the duty every day.

“It was tough,” said Lee, who played at North Hollywood High. “He is so quick and could do so many things with the basketball. He’s doing them now in the NBA. After guarding him in practice, I fear no one.

“I know I can play at this level. Now I have to show everyone else.”

Georgia is the latest team to become believers. The Bulldogs’ pressure defense never rattled Lee, who had two turnovers in 27 minutes. He showed some offensive skills as well.

Lee sank a three-pointer and made two free throws to give the Cardinal a 42-28 lead late in the first half.

In the second half, he made an 18-foot jumper. He then blew past two Georgia defenders--like Knight would have--for a layup and was fouled. His free throw gave Stanford a 62-50 lead.

“Arthur looks much more comfortable with the team and they look more comfortable with him,” Montgomery said. “It’s only going to get better.”

Lee didn’t think that would be possible after Saturday’s victory.

“We beat a ranked team on national TV in a big arena,” Lee said. “I’m simply elated.”