Lance Stephenson has had an interesting NBA career, and at one time was one of the most exciting players in the NBA.
After amazing high school years, during which he broke the New York State scoring record, he was drafted by the Pacers in 2010. Ha played sparingly but gained a lot of attention when he flashed a choking gesture on LeBron James in the postseason.
After spending a few years out of the rotation, he was given an opportunity and thrived. When he was on the court, he helped the Pacers win – but he appeared to be an ongoing issue at the same time. After a series of antics, he got into a heated argument with Evan Turner during the first round of the 2014 playoffs, and later blew into LeBron’s ear. He had become a pest.
Well, he became a free agent that year and decided to test the market.
Two years, three teams
Over the next two years, Stephenson played for three teams: Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, and the Memphis Grizzlies.
He signed with the Hornets for two years, but he never jelled with the team and had trouble finding a fit with his new team. Therefore, he mostly played off the bench. His game didn’t play off of his teammates, and his performance also plummeted during this time. After feeling unwanted in Charlotte, Stephenson was included in a trade to the Clippers in 2015.
In Hollywood, his performance declined further. He was a bench guy, earning fewer than 16 minutes per game. His form was far from what it used to be, too — and then he was traded yet again, this time to Memphis last February.
At the Grizzlies, Stephenson proved that he could be a valuable player when he averaged 14.2 points in 27 minutes per game. Still, this past summer Memphis declined a team option on the final year of his contract worth more than $9 million. With little interest in him on the open market, it took him until September to finally settle on his next opportunity.
Stephenson – a dangerous bet?
Teams appear to consider Stephenson a dangerous bet. The former Pacers basketball star seems more unpredictable than the Basketball Star slot machine you can play at Royal Vegas casino. And the games at the Royal Vegas are unpredictable by design: they are built to entertain … just like Lance. The slot machines and card games you’ll find at the Royal Vegas are a major source of entertainment for thousands of players all over the world. Besides, the promotions and specials the Royal Vegas throws at its players each month make the games even more worthy of attention. Unpredictable and entertaining – these are two traits the games at the Royal Vegas and the former Pacers star seem to have in common.
Stephenson accepted a one-year deal with New Orleans, a team dealing with several personnel issues, and it will be on him to prove worthy of a roster spot for NBA teams. They’ll be watching in the preseason and if the Pelicans, who are only on the hook for $100,000, can work with Stephenson and find that magic that Pacers fans saw in 2014.
[Examining the Lance Stephenson Saga]
Remember Sir Lance-A-Lot? He was a fringe All-Star reserver. Now, in an age where the salary cap ballooned, he has not been able to cash in and find a quality long-term deal.