Lance Stephenson has gone back to his high school jersey number, 1, ahead of fifth full season with the Indiana Pacers. He made the announcement Wednesday afternoon over on Instagram.
This is his second stint with the Pacers. They signed Stephenson to a three-year contract, worth $4 million per year, on April 30th. The final season, 2018-19, is a team option.
In uniform for the final six regular season games, the Pacers went 5-1 to earn a playoff spot for the second consecutive year. They were then swept in four games by the reigning NBA Champions, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Stephenson averaged 16 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game in four playoff games last April.
[Lavoy Allen isn’t sure who he plays for]
Big man Kevin Seraphin wore No. 1 last season. In their short time together, Seraphin and Stephenson became good friends. It was inevitable that Seraphin surrendered No. 1.
“I told him I was waiting for him to bring it up,” he said of Lance making an offer. “We’ll see how much money he’s willing to put on the table.”
Do you think you’ll come to an agreement?
“Hell yeah,” he said, willing to take Stephenson’s money. It’s not immediately clear what Seraphin, who is currently traveling in Greece, received in the deal.
The Frenchmen will now be No. 8.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTKNSC0AzDv/
Stephenson wore No. 6 for his first two years in the league, then changed to No. 1 in July, 2012. He also made the announcement then.
It's official I change my jersey number. Guess what number it is
— Lance Stephenson (@StephensonLance) July 23, 2012
One day before the 2017 NBA Draft, where the Pacers will select at 18 and 47, you can’t help but think back to their draft seven years ago. Larry Bird had a great 2010 draft, selecting Paul George 10th overall and then Stephenson with the 40th pick.
A lot has changed over the years.
Bird stepped down as team president on May 1, George’s agent informed the Pacers on June 17 that he would go elsewhere at the end of the 2017-18 if not traded before then, and then Stephenson announced his number change on June 21.
New look, new jersey manufacturer, and now a new number for Born Ready who has been Born Again in Indianapolis.
