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Pacers Legend Lance Stephenson Gets Honest on NBA Career Decline
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- Pacers Legend Lance Stephenson Gets Honest on NBA Career Decline
(Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports)
There are few players who have been more loved by Indiana Pacers fans in team history more than Lance Stephenson . When talking about fan favorite players, Stephenson is usually at the top or close to it on most lists.
Stephenson was originally drafted by the Pacers with the No. 40 overall pick in the second round of the 2010 NBA Draft. He played sparingly during his first two years in the NBA, but quickly became a huge part of Indiana turning into a championship contender.
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After playing his first four years with the Pacers, Stephenson and the team couldn't get a new contract done. He chose to leave Indiana to sign with the Charlotte Hornets . Stephenson received a lucrative three-year, $27 million deal from the Hornets.
Unfortunately, that decision was the start of a very steep decline from Stephenson.
A recent interview saw Stephenson talking about the downfall of his NBA career when he went to the Hornets.
"The year that I left the Pacers to go to the Hornets, once I got paid, I didn't keep that hunger. I kind of slowed. I got a car, I got houses, I was hyped," Stephenson said .
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"I go to my hood, I'm doing music videos. I felt like at that moment right there, I should have just started going harder and harder. And that's the only part of my career I feel like, damn, I should have changed that right there."
He only played one season in Charlotte, averaging 8.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. Following that one-year tenure with the Hornets, Stephenson became an NBA journeyman.
During the 2015-16 NBA season, Stephenson played for both the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies . He then played for the New Orleans Pelicans , Minnesota Timberwolves , and Pacers in the 2016-17 campaign.
In 2017-18, Stephenson spent the entire season in Indiana. He played in 82 games and made seven starts, averaging 9.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists. Then, in 2018-19 he played for the Los Angeles Lakers .
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Finally, his NBA career seems to have ended after a 2021-22 season that saw him play for the Atlanta Hawks and then make another return to the Pacers. He played in 40 games for Indiana that season, averaging 9.3 points, 3.9 assists, and 2.8 rebounds.
While he has yet to officially retire, Stephenson's NBA career is likely over. Assuming that ends up being the case, he finishes with 554 career games played and 200 starts. He holds career averages of 8.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game and career shooting percentages of 44.5 percent overall and 31.4 percent from three-point range.
Despite all of the ups and downs during his times with the Pacers, Indiana fans love Stephenson. Looking back, things could have much different.
