Lance Stephenson is a professional basketball player who has played for several teams in the NBA. He was born on September 5, 1990, in Brooklyn, New York, and attended Abraham Lincoln High School in Coney Island. Stephenson was a highly touted high school prospect and was ranked as one of the top players in the country.
After graduating from high school, Stephenson decided to forgo college and declared for the NBA draft. He was selected by the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the 2010 NBA draft. Stephenson spent his first four seasons with the Pacers, where he established himself as a solid role player and a tenacious defender. He was known for his ability to guard multiple positions and his willingness to do the dirty work on the court.
In the 2013-14 season, Stephenson had a breakout year for the Pacers. He averaged 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. However, the Pacers lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Miami Heat, and Stephenson became a free agent after the season.
Stephenson signed with the Charlotte Hornets in the summer of 2014, but he struggled to find his footing with his new team. He was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers midway through the 2015-16 season, where he played for one year before signing with the New Orleans Pelicans in the summer of 2016.
Stephenson's time with the Pelicans was short-lived, as he was waived by the team in November of 2016. He then signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he played for one season before signing with the Indiana Pacers in the summer of 2017.
Stephenson's return to the Pacers was a successful one, as he played a key role in the team's playoff run in the 2017-18 season. He averaged 9.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game and helped the Pacers push the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the first round of the playoffs.
After his second stint with the Pacers, Stephenson signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer of 2018. He played one season with the Lakers before signing with the Chinese Basketball Association's Liaoning Flying Leopards in the summer of 2019.
Stephenson returned to the NBA in the summer of 2020, signing with the Memphis Grizzlies. However, he was waived by the team before the start of the season. He then signed with the Indiana Pacers for a third time in the summer of 2021, but he was waived by the team before the start of the season.
Throughout his career, Stephenson has been known for his tenacity on the court and his ability to guard multiple positions. He has also been a solid scorer and playmaker, averaging 8.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game over his career. While he has bounced around the league in recent years, Stephenson remains a talented player who can contribute to any team in need of his services.
🏀