Xaivian Lee

Early life and background

Xaivian Lee was born on March 12, 2004, in Toronto, Ontario, to parents Eun-Kyung Lee and Daniel Bernstein. His mother was born in South Korea and later moved to Brooklyn, New York, before attending college in Toronto, while his father is a native of Toronto. Lee holds dual citizenship in Canada and the United States and was first introduced to basketball at the age of seven, growing up idolizing Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet. As a youth, he played both baseball and basketball, demonstrating early athletic versatility, and a significant moment in his development came at age 13 when he travelled to Buffalo, New York, to watch Princeton play Notre Dame in the 2017 NCAA tournament. His mother later described this experience as crucial, making future possibilities in basketball more tangible for him and noting how it later came full circle when he played for Princeton himself.

High school and AAU career

Lee began his high school basketball career at Crescent School in Toronto, where he was one of the top players in the Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association (CISAA). Seeking to enhance his recruiting profile, he transferred to the Perkiomen School in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania, for a postgraduate prep year where he averaged 17.4 points and 4.7 assists over 35 games. He led his team to its first-ever state title appearance and a qualification for the National Prep Tournament, playing alongside future college players Ryan Dunn, Luca Baratta, and Thomas Haugh. Concurrently, Lee competed on the prestigious Nike EYBL circuit for the CIA Bounce AAU program based in Canada, and his play there caught the attention of Princeton's staff after a recommendation from Cordell Llewellyn, the father of an AAU teammate. Princeton head coach Mitch Henderson recalled being immediately impressed after watching him, texting associate head coach Brett MacConnell that they needed Lee right away due to his flow, passing, and shooting ability.

Collegiate career

Lee's college career spanned four seasons across three different universities, marked by rapid development and significant achievements. He initially made an impact as a freshman reserve at Princeton during the 2022-23 season, appearing in 32 games and averaging 4.8 points and 1.8 rebounds while helping the Tigers reach the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. His role expanded dramatically as a sophomore, as he led Princeton to a 9-1 start, its best in a century, by averaging 19.5 points per game early on and scoring a career-high 33 points against Harvard in the conference opener to earn Ivy League Player of the Week. After testing the 2024 NBA draft waters while retaining eligibility, Lee returned for a junior season where he averaged 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game, and his tenure at Princeton was decorated with individual honours including back-to-back First-Team All-Ivy League selections. He also made program history on December 11, 2024, by recording Princeton's first-ever triple-double with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists against Saint Joseph's, an achievement that capped his remarkable time with the Tigers.

Following his junior year, Lee entered the transfer portal and committed to the University of Florida on April 16, 2025, where he adapted to a secondary offensive role in his senior season. He averaged 11.6 points, 4.2 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game while leading the team in assists and excelling academically by majoring in economics and earning Academic All-America honours. Lee was named SEC Player of the Week on February 14, 2026, after a 22-point performance against Kentucky, and he helped Florida reach the 2026 NCAA tournament where he scored 27 points across two games. After the season, Lee was granted a fifth year of eligibility via a lawsuit and subsequent temporary restraining order against the NCAA, leading him to enter the transfer portal again and commit to play his final collegiate season for the Gonzaga Bulldogs on August 26, 2026.

Professional and national team career

Lee's professional journey began shortly after his senior season at Florida when he agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers on June 24, 2026. He subsequently joined the team for the 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, appearing in all five of the Cavaliers' games and averaging 6.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 16 minutes per contest before transferring to Gonzaga for his final year of college eligibility. On the international stage, Lee represented Canada at the 2023 FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary, where he was a standout performer for the Canadian squad. He led the team in scoring with an average of 14.1 points per game to go along with 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists, helping Canada secure a seventh-place finish in the tournament and demonstrating his ability against global competition.

Playing style and projection

Lee is recognized as an instinctual and entertaining offensive player with a shifty, quick handle and the ability to score at all three levels. His court vision and playmaking instincts allowed him to run an offense effectively, as evidenced by his high assist numbers at Princeton, though the transition from being the primary creator there to a secondary option at Florida presented challenges reflected in a dip in his three-point shooting percentage. Scouting analysis from 2026 noted that while his offensive talent is undeniable, his physical measurements at pre-draft combines were slightly shorter and lighter than listed collegiate stats, and projections at the time suggested he was unlikely to be drafted but possessed the offensive creativity to earn opportunities in the NBA G League or on a two-way contract. His potential path was compared to undrafted, high-IQ guards like Jose Alvarado or Andrew Nembhard, though scouts indicated he would need to improve defensively and develop more consistent outside shooting to secure an NBA roster spot and prove his Princeton production was sustainable at the highest level.

Personal life and endorsements

Lee maintains a strong connection to his Toronto roots and his South Korean heritage, and he is a Christian who has been open about his faith. Beyond basketball, he pursued a degree in economics during his time at the University of Florida, balancing athletic and academic commitments successfully. In the area of endorsements, Lee signed a multi-year brand sponsorship deal with the apparel company Serious Player Only on June 1, 2025, an agreement that includes plans for a future signature shoe. This business venture complements his athletic career and reflects his growing profile as a marketable athlete with a dedicated fan base in Canada and beyond.

Career statistics and honours

By the conclusion of his collegiate career in the spring of 2026, Lee had accumulated 1,560 points, 534 rebounds, and 448 assists across his time at Princeton and Florida. His senior season at Florida saw him post averages of 11.6 points, 4.2 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game while shooting 42.0 percent from the field, and his honours and records demonstrate his impactful play over four seasons. His statistical production at Princeton, particularly as a junior, was unprecedented for the program, solidifying his place as one of the Ivy League's most dynamic players of his era and a key contributor for every team he played for. The list of his specific accolades includes multiple all-conference selections, a historic triple-double, and recognition for both his on-court performance and academic work.

• 2× First-team All-Ivy League (2024, 2025)
• SEC Player of the Week (February 14, 2026)
• Academic All-America honours (2026)
• First player in Princeton history to record a triple-double (21 pts, 13 reb, 10 ast on Dec. 11, 2024)
• 5x Ivy League Player of the Week during his Princeton career
• Team-high scorer for Canada at the 2023 FIBA U-19 World Cup (14.1 ppg)

Questions about Xaivian Lee

Where is Xaivian Lee from?

Xaivian Lee was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He holds dual citizenship in Canada and the United States. His mother is of South Korean descent, and his father is from Toronto. Lee played his early high school basketball at Crescent School in Toronto before moving to Pennsylvania for a postgraduate year.

Which colleges did Xaivian Lee play for?

Lee played for three different NCAA Division I programs. He began his career with the Princeton Tigers from 2022 to 2025, earning All-Ivy League honours. He then transferred to the University of Florida for the 2025-26 season, where he was named SEC Player of the Week. Following a legal ruling that granted him a fifth year of eligibility, he transferred to Gonzaga University for the 2026-27 season.

What are Xaivian Lee's major career achievements?

Lee's major achievements include being a two-time First-Team All-Ivy League selection at Princeton. He made history by recording the first triple-double in Princeton basketball history in December 2024. He was named SEC Player of the Week in February 2026 while at Florida and earned Academic All-America honours the same year. Internationally, he was the leading scorer for Canada at the 2023 FIBA U-19 World Cup.

Did Xaivian Lee get drafted into the NBA?

Xaivian Lee was not selected in the 2026 NBA draft. He is considered unlikely to be drafted but has the offensive creativity to earn G League or two-way opportunities. Following the draft, he agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers and joined them for the 2026 NBA Summer League. After appearing in all five Summer League games and averaging 6.4 points and 2.4 assists, he returned to college to play his final NCAA season at Gonzaga.

Has Xaivian Lee played for the Canadian national team?

Yes, Xaivian Lee has played for the Canadian national team. He represented the Canada men's national under-19 basketball team at the 2023 FIBA U-19 World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary. Lee averaged a team-high 14.1 points per game during the tournament, along with 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists. His performance helped lead Canada to a seventh-place finish in the competition.

What is Xaivian Lee's playing style and NBA potential?

Xaivian Lee is an instinctual and entertaining offensive player known for his shiftiness and quickness with the ball. He can score at all three levels and has the court vision to run an offense effectively. His path to the NBA is projected to most closely resemble players like Jose Alvarado or Andrew Nembhard, who used high basketball IQ to earn roles after going undrafted. To achieve this, Lee will need to show significant improvement defensively and more consistent outside shooting to convince scouts his Princeton production was sustainable at the professional level.

Sources and further reading

• Xaivian Lee (Wikipedia)
• NBA 2026 Draft Prospects | Xaivian Lee (nba.com)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-29.