In the world of basketball, representation has always been an important aspect of the game. Who could ever forget the days of Yao Ming towering over the league or the electric rush of Linsanity, when Jeremy Lin had millions of Asians tuning in night after night? But since then? Silence. A drop-off in visibility. A gap waiting to be filled. Sure, Yang Hansen’s arrival in the NBA this year served as a reminder that talent from Asia can still break through. But that’s just one part of what’s coming. Because there’s another rising name in the pipeline, ready to join him. Yes, we’re talking about Xaivian Lee.

Born on April 30, 2004, in Toronto, Ontario, Xaivian Leewas raised in a household where basketball was more than just a game.  At 6’4″ and 81 kilos, he didn’t have the physical profile of a can’t-miss prospect. He knew it. Everyone did. And that’s what made his dream of reaching the NBA even tougher. The odds weren’t in his favor. But from day one, Lee wasn’t interested in excuses.

“Being doubted has kind of been like a common thing my entire life,” Lee says. “Every single level I’ve gone to, there’s always been doubts if I could play at that level and if I can get to the next level.” 

Chasing his dream of playing Division I basketball, Xaivian Lee made a bold move to Pennsburg, Pennsylvania, where he enrolled at the Perkiomen School. In just one year, he proved he belonged. Lee averaged 17.4 points and 4.7 assists per game, leading Perkiomen to its first-ever state title. That’s not all!  Lee also shined on a bigger stage, becoming one of the standout performers in Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL), which is widely regarded as the top AAU basketball circuit in the nation.

He took his first real step toward the NBA dream when he committed to Princeton–the only Division I school that offered him out of Toronto. It wasn’t the kind of big-name program that shuts critics up, but that didn’t matter to Lee. It was an opportunity. A platform. And he was ready to make the most of it.

Three seasons later, he’d done exactly what he set out to do. After averaging 16.9 points and 5.5 assists in his junior year — and posting 12.9 points per game across three seasons at Princeton — Xaivian Lee joined the defending champions, the Florida Gators. That’s one way to shut your critics up!

Now stepping into a Florida Gators backcourt that once featured standout guard Walter Clayton Jr., Xaivian Lee has some big shoes to fill and even bigger expectations to meet. With fans eager to see how he’ll handle the spotlight, there’s growing curiosity not just about his game, but about the roots of his journey. This article takes a closer look at his biggest supporters: his parents.

Who are Xaivian Lee’s Parents?

Xaivian Lee was raised by parents who helped shape both his character and his career. His mother, Eun-Kyung Lee, is originally from South Korea but has roots in Brooklyn, New York. She later moved to Canada, pursued her education in Toronto, and earned her law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2010, according to Sports Unfold. His father, Daniel Bernstein, keeps a much lower profile, and public details about him are limited. As more information becomes available, we will make sure to update this section.

What ethnicity are Xaivian Lee’s parents?

As mentioned earlier, Xaivian Lee comes from a multicultural background. His mother, Eun-Kyung Lee, is originally from South Korea but later moved to North America. His father, Daniel Bernstein, lives in Toronto, and while his ethnicity isn’t officially confirmed, the surname “Bernstein” is often linked to Jewish heritage. Together, that gives Xaivian a rich blend of cultural roots — Korean and possibly Jewish.

Xaivian Lee’s relationship with his parents

Not much is known about Xaivian Lee’s relationship with his parents, since he keeps that side of his life mostly out of the spotlight. But there’s one moment that is well known by all in the community. When he was just 13 years old, his parents made a two-hour drive to Buffalo, N.Y., just so he could watch his first-ever March Madness game: a matchup between Notre Dame and Princeton. They helped plant a dream, one that he later made real.

Xaivian wasn’t just a fan in the stands anymore — he was the one in uniform, suiting up for Princeton and helping the Tigers return to the Big Dance in 2023, their first March Madness appearance since that trip he made as a 13-year-old back in 2017. “That was certainly an eye-opening experience for us,” his mother said in an interview with Sportsnet. “What (could) be a possibility for him in the future became more tangible, being there, seeing that in person. I think it’s a bit lovely how it came full circle.”

Other than this moment shared by his mom, not much else is publicly known about Xaivian’s relationship with his parents. But honestly, this one story says enough. It shows just how much they believe in him, how deeply they support him, and how tightly connected they are as a family.