Veteran guard Lance Stephenson plans to sign with the Indiana Pacers for the rest of the season, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Stephenson joins Indiana after four consecutive 10-day contracts with the team under NBA’s COVID-related hardship exception. Significantly he has been a key member of the roster as he has averaged 9.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 17 games in the 2021-22 NBA season.
After four consecutive 10-days, Lance Stephenson is signing a contract with the Indiana Pacers for the rest of the season, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Stephenson earns full deal after averaging 9.4 points and 4.2 assists in 17 Pacers games.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2022
Stephenson’s NBA return
Lance Stephenson returned to the NBA after successful stints in the G League with the Grand Rapids Gold and Atlanta Hawks at the start of the 2021-22 season. He played in China with the Liaoning Flying Leopards in the 2019-20 season and was in Shenyang during the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Lance Stephenson having a great time in China????pic.twitter.com/1Ufw74OEe9
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 19, 2019
He then rejoined the Pacers in January after the franchise experienced a roster depletion because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Rumours about Stephenson returning with the Pacers were already churning from the past few days. NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the veteran has won the respect of coach Rick Carlisle for his strong play.
The Pacers are expected to keep Lance Stephenson for the rest of the season, league sources say, thanks to his very strong play in this third Indiana stint that has won admiration from Pacers coach Rick Carlisle.
Stephenson has one day left on his initial Indiana hardship deal.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 9, 2022
Third time is the charm
Lance Stephenson returns to the Pacers for the third time in his career. He was drafted by Indy in the 2010 draft as the 40th overall pick. The 31-year-old forward spent his first four years with the Indiana Pacers.
Lance Stephenson dances to the rim!#Pacers pic.twitter.com/qgWRcfa0qR
— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2017
He was part of the great Indiana teams reaching the Eastern Conference finals for two straight seasons in 2013 and 2014. Stephenson returned to Indiana in the 2017-18 season. Furthermore, he played 82 games while averaging 9.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists.
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