Lance Stephenson
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Lance Stephenson Jr. (born September 5, 1990) is an American professional
basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...
player who last played for the
Indiana Pacers The Indiana Pacers are an American professional basketball team based in Indianapolis. The Pacers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division. The Pacers were first esta ...
of the
National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United S ...
(NBA). He attended Lincoln High School in the
Coney Island Coney Island is a peninsular neighborhood and entertainment area in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood is bounded by Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, Manhattan Beach to its east, L ...
section of Brooklyn, where he was named Mr. New York Basketball after his senior year and appeared in the 2009
McDonald's All-American Game The McDonald's All-American Game is the all-star basketball game played each year for American and Canadian boys' and girls' high school basketball graduates. Consisting of the top players, each team plays a single exhibition game after the concl ...
. He later played
college basketball In United States colleges, top-tier basketball is governed by collegiate athletic bodies including National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the United States Collegiate Athleti ...
for the
Cincinnati Bearcats The Cincinnati Bearcats are the athletic teams that represent the University of Cincinnati. Though they will move to the Big 12 Conference (XII) the teams are currently a part of the American Athletic Conference (The American), which from 1979 ...
and was selected in the second round of the
2010 NBA draft The 2010 NBA draft was held on June 24, 2010, at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The draft, which started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time (2300 UTC), was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National ...
by the
Indiana Pacers The Indiana Pacers are an American professional basketball team based in Indianapolis. The Pacers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division. The Pacers were first esta ...
.


High school career

Stephenson first caught the attention of scouts at age 12, when Clark Francis, a talent evaluator, saw him play at Rumble in the Bronx AAU tournament. Before his first year of high school, he attended the Adidas ABCD Camp, where he challenged
O. J. Mayo Ovinton J'Anthony Mayo (born November 5, 1987) is an American professional basketball player who plays for Zamalek SC of the Egyptian Basketball Super League (EBSL). He played a single season of college basketball for the USC Trojans while earnin ...
to a one-on-one game. In the summer of 2005, Stephenson enrolled at
Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School is a private, Roman Catholic, co-educational, college-preparatory high school located at 357 Clermont Avenue in the Ft. Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. The school serves students in grades 9 throu ...
, but he only attended the school for three days. The school lost in the championship game. The following week, Stephenson did not return to classes at Bishop Loughlin, and was attending Abraham Lincoln High School near his home in
Coney Island Coney Island is a peninsular neighborhood and entertainment area in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood is bounded by Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, Manhattan Beach to its east, L ...
.
National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United S ...
players
Stephon Marbury Stephon Xavier Marbury (born February 20, 1977) is an American former professional basketball player and current head coach in the Chinese Basketball Association. After his freshman year with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, he was selected as th ...
,
Sebastian Telfair Sebastian Telfair (born June 9, 1985) is an American former professional basketball player who played in the NBA and the Chinese Basketball Association. Telfair was picked thirteenth overall in the 2004 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers on ...
, and future
Seton Hall University Seton Hall University (SHU) is a private Catholic research university in South Orange, New Jersey. Founded in 1856 by then-Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley and named after his aunt, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan un ...
star
Isaiah Whitehead Isaiah Whitehead (born March 8, 1995) is an American professional basketball player for Beşiktaş Emlakjet of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL). He played college basketball for Seton Hall. High school career Whitehead rose to prominence playing ...
had also attended and played basketball at Lincoln High. Head coach Dwayne Morton said, " tephensonalways talked about outdoing Sebastian, outdoing Stephon," and called him "The best I've ever had at Lincoln." Stephenson went on to lead the Railsplitters to the city title that year. Lincoln High repeated as champions his sophomore and junior years, while Stephenson won back-to-back Player of the Year honors from the ''
New York Daily News The New York ''Daily News'', officially titled the ''Daily News'', is an American newspaper based in Jersey City, NJ. It was founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson as the ''Illustrated Daily News''. It was the first U.S. daily printed in ta ...
''. As a sophomore, he was the youngest player featured in the movie '' Gunnin' for That No. 1 Spot'', which followed eight high school basketball prospects. In 2007 as a high school junior he was named to the annual ''
USA Today ''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgini ...
s All-USA boys basketball team, the only non-senior to be given that honor. In July 2008, Stephenson tried out for the United States national team's under-18 team, but was cut because of chemistry reasons. On February 15, 2009, Stephenson passed fellow Lincoln High School alumnus Telfair's previous record of 2,785 points in the Brooklyn borough title game to become the all-time leading scorer for high school basketball in
New York State New York, officially the State of New York, is a state in the Northeastern United States. It is often called New York State to distinguish it from its largest city, New York City. With a total area of , New York is the 27th-largest U.S. stat ...
. In March 2009, Stephenson led Lincoln High to an unprecedented fourth consecutive
Public Schools Athletic League The Public Schools Athletic League, known by the abbreviation PSAL, is an organization that promotes student athletics in the public schools of New York City. It was founded in 1903 to provide and maintain a sports program for students enrolled in ...
(PSAL) class AA championship. Stephenson scored a game-high 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the 78–56 final win against
John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination ...
, and helped Lincoln become the first school in city history to win four straight titles. Stephenson's high school career ended in the New York State semifinal, where Rice High School beat Lincoln 77–50, and Stephenson was held to 12 points by Rice's
Durand Scott Durand Christopher Scott (born February 22, 1990) is a Jamaican-American professional basketball player for Maccabi Ashdod B.C. of the Liga Leumit. Born in New York City, Scott played for Rice High School, before enrolling in the University of Mi ...
, who also beat out Stephenson for the ''Daily News New York City player of the year honor. He ended his career with 2,946 points. In April 2009, Stephenson played in the
McDonald's All-American Game The McDonald's All-American Game is the all-star basketball game played each year for American and Canadian boys' and girls' high school basketball graduates. Consisting of the top players, each team plays a single exhibition game after the concl ...
, finishing with 12 points, six assists and three steals.


Recruiting

In early 2009, Stephenson chose
Kansas Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the ...
, St. John's and
Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...
as his finalists, but he canceled two announcements, and his father said that he had narrowed his choice to Maryland and
Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
. His official visit to Maryland in February came under scrutiny after he was given a tour of the
Under Armour Under Armour, Inc. is an American sports equipment company that manufactures footwear, sports and casual apparel. Under Armour's global headquarters are located in Baltimore, Maryland, with additional offices located in Amsterdam (European hea ...
headquarters during his visit. This may have constituted a recruiting violation, as Under Armour CEO
Kevin Plank Kevin Audette Plank (born August 13, 1972) is an American billionaire businessman and philanthropist. Plank is the founder and executive chairman of Under Armour, a manufacturer of sportswear, footwear and accessories, based in Baltimore, Maryland ...
is a
Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...
graduate and on the university's board of trustees, and by NCAA rules, "representative of the institution's athletics interests" or a
booster Booster may refer to: Amusement rides * Booster (Fabbri ride), a pendulum ride * Booster (HUSS ride), an evolution of the Breakdance ride * Booster (KMG ride), a pendulum ride Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional characters * Booster, a cha ...
. Stephenson initially told reporters he would announce which college he would be attending following the
PSAL The Public Schools Athletic League, known by the abbreviation PSAL, is an organization that promotes student athletics in the public schools of New York City. It was founded in 1903 to provide and maintain a sports program for students enrolled in ...
title game in March, but delayed the announcement until the
McDonald's All-American Game The McDonald's All-American Game is the all-star basketball game played each year for American and Canadian boys' and girls' high school basketball graduates. Consisting of the top players, each team plays a single exhibition game after the concl ...
on April 1, saying, "I already know where I'm going. This is not the right place o make an announcement" On March 31, Stephenson, who had been expected to commit to
Kansas Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the ...
during the All-American game's media event, instead announced that he would delay the announcement again. In April 2009, another top recruit
Xavier Henry Xavier Henry (; born March 15, 1991) is an American former professional basketball player. He played one year of college basketball with the Kansas Jayhawks before he was drafted in the 2010 NBA draft by the Memphis Grizzlies. Henry's brother, ...
, who had been released from his commitment to
Memphis Memphis most commonly refers to: * Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt * Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city Memphis may also refer to: Places United States * Memphis, Alabama * Memphis, Florida * Memphis, Indiana * Memp ...
after coach
John Calipari John Vincent Calipari (born February 10, 1959) is an American basketball coach. Since 2009, he has been the head coach of the University of Kentucky men's team, with whom he won the NCAA Championship in 2012. He has been named Naismith College C ...
left to take the
Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia to ...
job, announced he would play for Kansas. Because Henry's commitment put Kansas at the 13-scholarship limit under
NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges an ...
rules, it ruled out a scholarship offer for Stephenson. On May 20, the last day of the late signing period, Stephenson had not signed a letter of intent, but his father Lance Sr. told ''
USA Today ''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgini ...
'' that he would not make a decision until his sexual assault case from October was resolved. The day before, a judge had
adjourned In parliamentary procedure, an adjournment ends a meeting. It could be done using a motion to adjourn. A time for another meeting could be set using the motion to fix the time to which to adjourn. This motion establishes an adjourned meeting. ...
his case until June 29. On June 30,
Andy Katz Andrew D. Katz (born April 7, 1968) is a college basketball analyst for the Big Ten Network and a college basketball correspondent for the NCAA. He formerly worked as a senior college basketball journalist for ESPN.com, and was a regular spor ...
of
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reported that Stephenson signed a financial aid agreement with the
University of Cincinnati The University of Cincinnati (UC or Cincinnati) is a public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1819 as Cincinnati College, it is the oldest institution of higher education in Cincinnati and has an annual enrollment of over 44,00 ...
, and he joined the Bearcats for the 2009–10 season.


College career

Questions remained over Stephenson's eligibility because of his involvement in his documention, but on November 6, 2009, the
NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges an ...
cleared him to play in Cincinnati's season opener against
Prairie View A&M University Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU or PV) is a public historically black land-grant university in Prairie View, Texas. Founded in 1876, it is one of Texas's two land-grant universities and the second oldest public institution of higher learnin ...
on November 15 without missing any games. In his only season at Cincinnati, Stephenson started 32 of 34 games and averaged 12.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He scored a season-best 23 points and made a season-high 11 field goals in 17 attempts against Georgetown on March 6, 2010. He was the leading scorer among Big East freshmen and was named Big East Rookie of the Year. On April 7, 2010, Stephenson announced that he would forgo his final three seasons of collegiate eligibility and enter the
2010 NBA draft The 2010 NBA draft was held on June 24, 2010, at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The draft, which started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time (2300 UTC), was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National ...
.


Professional career


Indiana Pacers (2010–2014)


Early years (2010–2013)

Stephenson was selected by the
Indiana Pacers The Indiana Pacers are an American professional basketball team based in Indianapolis. The Pacers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division. The Pacers were first esta ...
with the 40th pick in the
2010 NBA draft The 2010 NBA draft was held on June 24, 2010, at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The draft, which started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time (2300 UTC), was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National ...
. He did not make his NBA debut until February 27, 2011, in a 110–108 loss to the
Phoenix Suns The Phoenix Suns are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. The Suns are the only team in t ...
. In four minutes, he recorded two points, two assists and one rebound. He had been in uniform five times before making his debut, but had not received an opportunity due to being the third point guard on the team. He played in 12 regular-season games before being demoted for violating team rules in early April. His ongoing immaturity issues were to blame. In the lockout-shortened 2011–12 season, Stephenson was a fixture in the first half of the season playing in 32 of the first 35 games, but fell out of the picture in the second half of the season, making just 10 appearances in the final 31. In the regular-season finale on April 25, with the third seed clinched and
Danny Granger Danny Granger Jr. (born April 20, 1983) is an American former professional basketball player who played ten seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was drafted by the Indiana Pacers in 2005 after a two-year college stint at New ...
and
Leandro Barbosa Leandro Mateus Barbosa (; born November 28, 1982), also known as Leandrinho Barbosa, is a Brazilian former professional basketball player who is an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also rep ...
given the night off to nurse injuries, Stephenson started for the first time and scored 22 points on 10 of 15 shooting, playing 35 minutes without a turnover. He had 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the fourth quarter, but the Pacers fell short against the
Chicago Bulls The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division. The team was founded on January 1 ...
, losing 92–87. With Danny Granger out injured for the majority of the 2012–13 season, Stephenson had a breakthrough year. He averaged 8.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in 29.2 minutes per game during the regular season. He improved to 9.4 points and 7.6 rebounds during the playoffs, although his shooting percentages dropped in all categories. On April 14, 2013, he scored a season-high 22 points against the
New York Knicks The New York Knickerbockers, shortened and more commonly referred to as the New York Knicks, are an American professional basketball team based in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the National Basketball Associat ...
. In game six of the Pacers' second-round playoff series against the Knicks, Stephenson scored a career-best 25 points.


Breakout season (2013–2014)

Stephenson had another breakout season in 2013–14, posting career highs across the board in his second year in a starting role. On November 11, 2013, he scored 13 points with career highs of 12 assists and 11 rebounds for his first career triple-double as the Pacers defeated the
Memphis Grizzlies The Memphis Grizzlies (referred to locally as the Grizz) are an American professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Grizzlies compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference ...
95–79. He had his second career triple-double eleven days later, recording 10 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds in a 97–82 win over the
Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics ( ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. Founded in 1946 as one of t ...
. On December 22, 2013, he recorded his third career triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 106–79 win over the Celtics. On January 16, 2014, Stephenson scored a career-high 28 points in a 117–89 win over the Knicks. He finished the regular season with a league-high five triple-doubles, and finished second in
NBA Most Improved Player Award The NBA's Most Improved Player Award (MIP) is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given to the player who has shown the most progress during the regular season compared to previous seasons. The winner is selected by a panel of s ...
voting. The Pacers entered the
playoffs The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...
as the first seed in the Eastern Conference and advanced to the conference finals, where they lost to the
Miami Heat The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern Conference Southeast Division (NBA), Southe ...
for the second straight year. His unusual tactics made headlines during the Eastern Conference finals against the
Miami Heat The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern Conference Southeast Division (NBA), Southe ...
, including blowing in the ear of
LeBron James LeBron Raymone James Sr. (; born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "King James", he is widely considered one of the greatest pl ...
during a game five win. Following the 2013–14 season, the Pacers offered him a five-year, $44 million contract, but instead Stephenson opted to test the market, believing that he was worth more.


Charlotte Hornets (2014–2015)

On July 18, 2014, Stephenson signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the
Charlotte Hornets The Charlotte Hornets are an American professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Hornets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Southeast Division, and pla ...
. On November 7, 2014, he won the game for the Hornets in double overtime with a buzzer-beating three-point shot to defeat the
Atlanta Hawks The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta. The Hawks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern Conference Southeast Division (NBA), Sou ...
122–119, finishing with his first double-double as a Hornet with 17 points and 13 rebounds. On January 14, 2015, against the
San Antonio Spurs The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio. The Spurs compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference Southwest Division ( ...
, Stephenson returned from a 14-game absence due to a pelvic sprain.


Los Angeles Clippers (2015–2016)

On June 15, 2015, Stephenson was traded to the
Los Angeles Clippers The Los Angeles Clippers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Clippers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division in the league's Western Conference. The Clipper ...
in exchange for
Spencer Hawes Spencer Mason Hawes (born April 28, 1988) is an American former professional basketball player. He was selected by the Sacramento Kings in the 2007 NBA draft and is the nephew of Steve Hawes, a retired NBA player. High school career Hawes playe ...
and
Matt Barnes Matt Barnes (born March 9, 1980) is an American former professional basketball player who played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Barnes was drafted in the second round of the 2002 NBA draft by the Memphis Grizzlies. He ...
. On December 2, 2015, he scored a then season-high 19 points in a loss to his former team, the Indiana Pacers.


Memphis Grizzlies (2016)

On February 18, 2016, Stephenson was traded, along with a future first-round pick, to the
Memphis Grizzlies The Memphis Grizzlies (referred to locally as the Grizz) are an American professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Grizzlies compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference ...
in exchange for Jeff Green. On March 11, 2016, he scored a career-high 33 points in a 121–114 overtime win over the
New Orleans Pelicans The New Orleans Pelicans are an American professional basketball team based in New Orleans. The Pelicans compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Southwest Division and play their hom ...
.


New Orleans Pelicans (2016)

On September 14, 2016, Stephenson signed with the
New Orleans Pelicans The New Orleans Pelicans are an American professional basketball team based in New Orleans. The Pelicans compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Southwest Division and play their hom ...
. After sustaining a groin injury on November 4 and being subsequently ruled out for six to 10 weeks, the Pelicans waived Stephenson on November 7.


Minnesota Timberwolves (2017)

On February 8, 2017, Stephenson signed a 10-day contract with the
Minnesota Timberwolves The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Northwest Division. Founded in 19 ...
. On February 14, 2017, in a loss to the
Cleveland Cavaliers The Cleveland Cavaliers (often referred to as the Cavs) are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference (NBA), Ea ...
, he suffered a Grade 2 ankle sprain. On March 8, 2017, after recovering from the injury, Stephenson signed a second 10-day contract with the Timberwolves. On March 18, the Timberwolves decided not to sign him for the rest of the season.


Return to Indiana (2017–2018)

On March 30, 2017, Stephenson signed with the
Indiana Pacers The Indiana Pacers are an American professional basketball team based in Indianapolis. The Pacers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division. The Pacers were first esta ...
, returning to the franchise for a second stint. On June 25, 2018, the Pacers declined their team option on Stephenson's contract, thus parting ways with him for a second time.


Los Angeles Lakers (2018–2019)

On July 10, 2018, Stephenson signed with the
Los Angeles Lakers The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. The Lakers play their ...
. On October 24, 2018, he had 23 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in a 131–113 win over the
Phoenix Suns The Phoenix Suns are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. The Suns are the only team in t ...
. He missed time in March because of a sprained toe on his left foot. He was the last Lakers player to wear number #6 before
LeBron James LeBron Raymone James Sr. (; born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "King James", he is widely considered one of the greatest pl ...
.


Liaoning Flying Leopards (2019–2020)

On August 1, 2019, Stephenson signed with the
Liaoning Flying Leopards The Liaoning Flying Leopards (), also known as the Liaoning Shenyang Sansheng Flying Leopard Club or Liaoning Bengang ( simplified Chinese: 辽宁本钢), are a Chinese professional basketball team based in Hunnan District, Shenyang, Liaoning ...
of the
Chinese Basketball Association The Chinese Basketball Association (), often abbreviated as the CBA, is the first-tier professional men's basketball league in China. The league is commonly known by fans as the CBA, and this acronym is even used in Chinese on a regular basis ...
. On September 22, 2019, he helped the team in an 83–82 title win over
Seoul SK Knights The Seoul SK Knights ( ko, 서울 SK 나이츠) is a professional basketball club in the Korean Basketball League. The club was originally founded by Jinro Group in 1997 as Cheongju Jinro McCass. Before the official launch of the basketball cl ...
at 2019 East Asia Super League Terrific 12 and named the
most valuable player In team sports, a most valuable player award, abbreviated 'MVP award', is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual (or individuals, in the instance of a tie) whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particu ...
of the Terrific 12.


Grand Rapids Gold (2021)

Stephenson was selected by the
Grand Rapids Gold The Grand Rapids Gold are an American professional basketball team in the NBA G League based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and are affiliated with the Denver Nuggets. The Gold play their home games at Van Andel Arena. They began play as the Anaheim ...
13th overall in the 2021 NBA G League draft. In 12 games, he averaged 19.8 points (.476 FG%, .306 3FG%, .686 FT%), 8.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 35.0 minutes per contest.


Atlanta Hawks (2021)

On December 22, 2021, Stephenson signed a 10-day contract with the
Atlanta Hawks The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta. The Hawks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern Conference Southeast Division (NBA), Sou ...
.


Third stint with Indiana (2022)

After his contract with the Hawks expired, Stephenson signed a new 10-day contract with the
Indiana Pacers The Indiana Pacers are an American professional basketball team based in Indianapolis. The Pacers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division. The Pacers were first esta ...
on January 1, 2022, to return to the franchise for a third stint. He signed the contract under the NBA's COVID-related hardship exception. On January 8, he recorded 16 points, a career-high 14 assists and four steals in a 125–113 win over the
Utah Jazz The Utah Jazz are an American professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City. The Jazz compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference, Northwest Division (NBA), ...
. After initially re-signing with the Pacers on January 11 to a second 10-day contract under the hardship exception, he signed a regular 10-day contract on January 14 due to the Pacers no longer having any players listed in the NBA's Health & Safety protocols. Stephenson signed a second 10-day contract with the Pacers on January 24. On February 4, he signed with the Pacers until the end of the season. On February 13, 2022, Stephenson logged 21 points, four assists, and three rebounds in a 129-120 loss to the
Minnesota Timberwolves The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Northwest Division. Founded in 19 ...
. On March 24, 2022 Stephenson scored 25 points in a 103-133 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.


Career statistics


NBA


Regular season

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Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
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Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
, 42 , , 1 , , 10.5 , , .376 , , .133 , , .471 , , 1.3 , , 1.1 , , .5 , , .1 , , 2.5 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",
Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
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Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
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Charlotte Charlotte ( ) is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont (United States), Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Meckl ...
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Memphis Memphis most commonly refers to: * Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt * Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city Memphis may also refer to: Places United States * Memphis, Alabama * Memphis, Florida * Memphis, Indiana * Memp ...
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New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans
Merriam-Webster.
; french: La Nouvelle-Orléans , es, Nuev ...
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Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
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Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
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Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
, style="background:#cfecec;", 82* , , 7 , , 22.6 , , .427 , , .289 , , .661 , , 5.2 , , 2.9 , , .6 , , .2 , , 9.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",
L.A. Lakers The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. The Lakers play their ...
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Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
, 6 , , 0 , , 11.7 , , .385 , , .000 , , .500 , , 2.5 , , 1.8 , , .0 , , .0 , , 1.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",
Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
, 40 , , 1 , , 18.6 , , .458 , , .310 , , .795 , , 2.8 , , 3.9 , , .6 , , .1 , , 9.3 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 554 , , 200 , , 22.9 , , .445 , , .314 , , .694 , , 4.1 , , 2.9 , , .6 , , .1 , , 8.6


Playoffs

, - , style="text-align:left;",
2012 File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gather ...
, style="text-align:left;",
Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
, 4 , , 0 , , 3.0 , , .222 , , .500 , , .500 , , .0 , , .3 , , .0 , , .0 , , 1.5 , - , style="text-align:left;",
2013 File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment fact ...
, style="text-align:left;",
Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
, 19 , , 19 , , 35.4 , , .408 , , .281 , , .622 , , 7.6 , , 3.3 , , 1.2 , , .1 , , 9.4 , - , style="text-align:left;",
2014 File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...
, style="text-align:left;",
Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
, 19 , , 19 , , 37.1 , , .455 , , .358 , , .714 , , 6.9 , , 4.2 , , .8 , , .2 , , 13.6 , - , style="text-align:left;",
2016 File:2016 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Bombed-out buildings in Ankara following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt; the impeachment trial of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff; Damaged houses during the 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh ...
, style="text-align:left;",
Memphis Memphis most commonly refers to: * Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt * Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city Memphis may also refer to: Places United States * Memphis, Alabama * Memphis, Florida * Memphis, Indiana * Memp ...
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2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a ser ...
, style="text-align:left;",
Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
, 4 , , 0 , , 26.8 , , .509 , , .389 , , .750 , , 5.3 , , 2.8 , , .5 , , .0 , , 16.0 , - , style="text-align:left;",
2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the United ...
, style="text-align:left;",
Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
, 7 , , 0 , , 21.3 , , .462 , , .308 , , .556 , , 2.7 , , 2.9 , , .3 , , .1 , , 10.4 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 57 , , 38 , , 30.5 , , .448 , , .330 , , .670 , , 5.6 , , 3.2 , , .8 , , .1 , , 11.1


CBA

, - , style="text-align:left;", 2019–20 , style="text-align:left;",
Liaoning Liaoning () is a coastal province in Northeast China that is the smallest, southernmost, and most populous province in the region. With its capital at Shenyang, it is located on the northern shore of the Yellow Sea, and is the northernmost ...
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Personal life

Stephenson is the son of Lance Sr. and Bernadette Stephenson. He has a younger brother named Lantz.


Legal issues

In January 2008, Stephenson was suspended from school for five days and missed two games following an altercation with a teammate. In October that year, he was arrested for groping a 17-year-old inside the school. He faced a Class B misdemeanor sexual assault charge, and his parents ended the "Born Ready" reality show following the arrest. On August 15, 2010, Stephenson was arrested for third-degree assault after allegedly pushing his girlfriend down a flight of stairs. The case was eventually dismissed.


See also

*


References


External links


Cincinnati Bearcats bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephenson, Lance 1990 births Living people 21st-century African-American sportspeople Abraham Lincoln High School (Brooklyn) alumni African-American basketball players American expatriate basketball people in China American men's basketball players Atlanta Hawks players Basketball players from New York City Charlotte Hornets players Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball players Grand Rapids Gold players Indiana Pacers draft picks Indiana Pacers players Liaoning Flying Leopards players Los Angeles Clippers players Los Angeles Lakers players McDonald's High School All-Americans Memphis Grizzlies players Minnesota Timberwolves players New Orleans Pelicans players Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball) Shooting guards Small forwards Sportspeople from Brooklyn