Lance Stephenson Was ‘99 Percent’ Set To Sign With Pacers In March, Hopes To End Career There

Lance Stephenson is currently training in Indianapolis, but he wishes he were in Orlando for the NBA restart.

The Brooklyn native, who turns 30 in September, was “99 percent” set to sign a deal with the Indiana Pacers before the pandemic hit in March, but was not permitted to sign with the league after spending the first part of this season in China, he and his agent said Friday in a joint phone interview.

“Yeah, definitely, I wanted to play in Orlando,” Stephenson said.

Reggie Brown, his agent with Priority Sports, said Stephenson was on the brink of re-signing with the Pacers in March.

“We were in serious conversations for a third-time’s-a-charm return to the Pacers,” Brown said. “We were offered buyout money from the team in China from the Pacers and we were 99 percent done. And then the pandemic took place, and the NBA decided that no overseas players would be allowed to participate in the 22-team bubble return. They would only take players who played last season or this season in the NBA and/or the G League.”

Stephenson averaged 26.7 points and 7.4 rebounds with the Liaoning Flying Leopards, with whom he signed a one-year, $4-million deal last summer. But he returned to the U.S. Jan. 24 when the Chinese Basketball Association was suspended after the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, a week before it was scheduled to return following a spring break at the end of the regular season. The league resumed play on June 20.

Stephenson was one of many American players under contract in China who returned to the U.S. because of the virus, but Brown said he is no longer contractually obligated to the Leopards. Chasson Randle, Jeremy Lin, Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson were also in that group of American players in China.

“Anybody who participated in Europe [or overseas], they wouldn’t allow to play [in the NBA], which we understand, safety is first,” Brown said.

“It’s unfortunate because Lance was in a really, really good place physically and mentally, probably the best version of himself that I’ve seen since I’ve been involved with him. I really think the Pacers would have benefited and I think that would’ve been a home run, to return there for a third time.”

Stephenson, who was known as “Born Ready” when he starred at Brooklyn Lincoln High School before a one-and-done year at Cincinnati, last played in the NBA with the Lakers in 2019. He has career averages of 8.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 508 career games. He is perhaps best known for blowing into LeBron James’ ear during a playoff game between the Miami Heat and the Pacers in 2014.

He is currently working out in Indianapolis in hopes of a return to the NBA, ideally with the Pacers, for the 2020-21 season slated to start in December, possibly in a bubble.

“My goal is just to shape in shape, stay working, stay ready for next season,” Stephenson said.

Stephenson said he is open to playing overseas, but his goal is to return to the NBA.

“Lance 100 percent deserves to be in the NBA as a rotation guy, not just on a team,” Brown said. “Whatever role he had in the NBA going forward, he would accept it but he definitely belongs in the NBA. It’s not even close.

“He’s an unbelievable version of himself. His jump shot has improved tremendously. He’s really shooting the ball really well, and I think that was the only missing piece to have a well-rounded game to play the way teams are playing now. You pretty much have to have that three-ball and he’s gotten it and he can defend multiple positions. He can play the one, two or the three and he can play small-ball four similar to Draymond Green, but I think he’ll be a better offensive version of Draymond Green.”

Brown would like to see Stephenson retire with the Pacers.

“I really think this Pacers thing would work out great for him to finish his career there,” he said.

“We went to a Pacers game against New Orleans prior to the pandemic and I just couldn’t believe the reception that Lance received. It was really, really sincere and genuine and I think he has a home there and I think he can really help. I think he brings something different to the table and I think he understands better now from a team perspective what’s expected of him and I think he could finish his career there.”

Stephenson watched the NBA restart games on Thursday night featuring James and the Lakers against the Clippers, and the Pelicans vs. the Jazz.

“I’ve been watching the games,” he said. “They look different but just to be able to play and compete is always a blessing for me. I feel like any situation, I can play in any type of condition.”

Asked what social messaging he would have worn on his jersey, Stephenson didn’t want to pick just one.

“I definitely would wear all the messages that’s on the jerseys,” he said. “I feel that we need stuff like that during this time with what’s going on.”

Added Brown: “I’m sure [Stephenson] would’ve come up with something unique and different.”

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