United Multicultural Stories: Marcus Lee

For many professionals, basketball provides a pathway to travel the world, experiencing cultures they may have never otherwise had the opportunity to.

This has been the case for United import big-man Marcus Lee, who after growing up in the Bay Area of California, has traversed the globe, throwing down huge dunks in every stop along the way.

The youngest of four brothers, Lee spent his childhood competing with his siblings in the gym and on the court.

When he wasn’t working up a sweat exercising, he was often in the kitchen learning from his mother, who only recently shared her secret family recipe for gumbo so her son could have a little taste of home while across the globe.

“Growing up my family was really competitive, so we spent a lot of time in the gym working out,” he said.

“That’s how we really grew as a family, but also I would hang out with my mum in the kitchen where she taught me how to cook.

“(Her gumbo), it’s a secret recipe, I just got it this past summer so I’m looking forward to making it and perfecting it. It is a little hard to get some of the indridents here, especially some of the spicy food, but we can find a way around that.”

Since departing the USA in 2020, Lee suited up in Italy, Spain, Turkey and Puerto Rico before landing in Australia.

“Basketball has brought me to many different countries and the guys on those teams really helped me learn a lot about those countries, they helped me explore and see everything those places had to offer.

“I think that was the coolest part, to be able to learn and explore.”

Now settled in Melbourne, the diversity of his new home reminds him a lot of the multicultural nature of the Bay Area.

Ahead of Melbourne United’s Multicultural Game, Lee touched on why celebrating the inclusive nature of where we play is so important.

“Melbourne reminds me of San Francisco actually, where it’s a whole lot of different types of people in one area and one city, but they all feel similar to each other and they’re all really banding together to make one big melting pot.

“The Multicultural Game really highlights the city as a whole and the diversity on our team.”

Come celebrate the diversity of Melbourne this Sunday at John Cain Arena. 

Tickets to The Multicultural Game remain available here, while The Multicultural Festival is free for all.

Fans can also tune in live at home on 10 BOLD or ESPN via Kayo.