Stephenson’s initial 10-day, which he signed on January 11, expired this morning, prompting the organization to use Stephenson’s final 10-day before being faced with the decision of signing him for the remainder of the season or letting him walk.

Like numerous other former NBA veterans looking to get back into the League, Stephenson has signed multiple 10-days – becoming the first player to sign a fourth 10 day- first signing with the Atlanta Hawks. After appearing in six games for the Hawks, Born Ready then signed his first of three 10-days with the Pacers on the first of the new year.

Typically, a player is restricted in signing more than two 10-day contracts with a single team. However, due to the COVID-19-related hardship exemption, that restriction only applies to standard-10-day agreements. Stephenson is now on his second such deal.

In 11 games played for the team that originally drafted him back in 2010, Stephenson averages 9.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the field in 19.5 minutes a game.

Beat the game clock, bust out the air guitar

Lance Stephenson drains the triple on NBA League Pass: https://t.co/L8Rrlv9ZoR pic.twitter.com/Ib1kCKv8VR

— NBA (@NBA) January 15, 2022

It didn’t take long for the Brooklyn-native to fall back into his groove while rocking the yellow and navy blue; in his third game back in Indiana, Stephenson dropped 30 points, five dimes, and a few air guitars in the Pacers’ 129-121 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. In the Pacers’ next game, Stephenson was back to firing from all cylinders against the Utah Jazz, scoring 16 points while dishing out 14 assists in the Pacers’ win three days later.

Through Stephenson’s fourth 10-day, the organization has provided more flexibility as his contract will expire a week before the February 10 trade deadline.

The post Pacers Sign Lance Stephenson to Final 10-Day Contract appeared first on SLAM.

According to NBA reporter Marc Stein, the Pacers announced their intentions to keep Lance through the end of the season.

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

Anyone that saw Stephenson’s last two games saw this decision from the Pacers’ front office coming. They waived Kelan Martin to open a roster spot for the 6-5 guard the team drafted 40th overall in the 2010 NBA Draft.

First, he stole the show when Kyrie Irving’s made his return to the Brooklyn Nets roster by scoring an NBA-record 20 points off the bench in the first quarter on his way to a 30 point performance last Wednesday.

20 points.
8-9 shooting.
4-5 from deep.

In one quarter.

Lance. Stephenson. pic.twitter.com/kaNyZvlniZ

— NBA (@NBA) January 6, 2022

Then he followed it up by dishing a career-high 14 assists to go with 16 points, six rebounds, and four steals in the Pacers’ 125-113 win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday. His playmaking sparked his teammate Domontas Sabonis to a 42 point and six rebound night on 18-22 shooting.

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!?@StephensonLance @Dsabonis11 #NBAAllStar | #GoldBlooded pic.twitter.com/ak54pyLdvQ

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) January 9, 2022

After the Nets game, Stephenson expressed his feelings about being back in an Indiana uniform via the Indy Star.

“As soon as I put that jersey on, I feel like I just get my powers,” Stephenson said after scoring 30 points, just three points shy of his career-high, against the Nets on Wednesday. “I don’t know what it is. Every time I put that jersey on, I just feel comfortable, and when you playing in front of people that’s happy for you to play and egging you on, it just makes the game more easier.”

This is Stephenson’s third stint with the franchise. On Monday, the Pacers (15-25) return to action against the Celtics (19-21).

The post REPORT: Indiana Pacers Sign Lance Stephenson For the Rest Of Season appeared first on SLAM.

Although he’s no longer in his prime, Stephenson was a solid player for the Pacers during the two previous stints he spent with the team. He began his career in Indiana, then had a second run with the team starting in the 2016-17 season.

Now, Stephenson is once again a Pacer for the third time. While there’s a good chance this is only temporary, he’ll be a quality veteran for the struggling franchise. Before signing this deal with Indiana, Stephenson was on a 10-day deal with the Atlanta Hawks where he got limited action.

In his first game with the Pacers on Sunday night, Stephenson was a legitimate contributor. In a close loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, he posted six points, three assists and one rebound in just 13 minutes of action.

It’s unclear what Stephenson’s future is in Indiana, but for now it’s great to see him back with his former team. With depleted rosters across the league, teams have looked very different over the past several weeks.

The post Lance Stephenson is a Pacer Once Again appeared first on SLAM.

On Tuesday, Marc Stein reported that Lance Stephenson had signed a 10-day hardship contract with the Atlanta Hawks.

Stephenson is getting the chance with the Hawks as part of the NBA’s new hardship contract program, allowing teams struggling with COVID-19 outbreaks to sign short-term replacement players to continue playing games.

It’s been over two years since Stephenson last suited up for an NBA team, playing 68 games with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2018-19 season and averaging 7.2 points per game in the process.

However, Stephenson is an NBA vet, having played 508 career games with seven different NBA teams. Most will remember Stephenson for his six seasons spent with the Indiana Pacers, where he averaged 9.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game.

If Stephenson suites up for the Hawks during his 10-day contract, that will make Atlanta the eighth different franchise he’s played for in his career.

The Hawks have been hurt hard by the league’s health and safety protocols, with Trae Young, Clint Capela, and Danilo Gallinari all currently unavailable.

The post REPORT: Lance Stephenson Signs 10-Day Contract With Hawks appeared first on SLAM.

The entertaining veteran last played with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2018-19 season, when he averaged 7.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per contest.

After that season, Stephenson signed with the Liaoning Flying Leopards of the Chinese Basketball Association, where he played the 2019-20 season.

As he looked to make a return back to the NBA, Stephenson was among the players that entered the pool to be potentially selected in the 2021 NBA G League Draft. Taking place on Saturday, this was an opportunity for him to work his way back to the League on a G League affiliate.

As first reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Stephenson will play for the Denver Nuggets’ G League affiliate, Grand Rapids, this season after being selected No. 13 overall in G League draft.

This should be a great opportunity for Stephenson, who will have the chance to showcase his skills and potentially earn a spot on a contending Nuggets team later in the season.

Just 31 years old, Stephenson is a 6-foot-6 guard that brings a ton of energy to the floor. In his career, he’s averaged 8.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per contest. He’s certainly a role player at this point, but still has enough to help a team that’s looking to win now.

The post REPORT: Nuggets’ Grand Rapids Select NBA Veteran Lance Stephenson in G League Draft appeared first on SLAM.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Mavs hosted a workout for Isaiah Thomas, Monta Ellis and Lance Stephenson on Thursday afternoon.

Furthermore, Charania also reports that Thomas “appeared to be in great shape.”

Thomas has only played in 87 games with five different teams since 2017-18, most recently playing three games with the New Orleans Pelicans last season, scoring 23 points and adding five assists in 48 minutes.

At one point though, with the Boston Celtics, Thomas was a serious MVP candidate, making the 2016-17 All-NBA team (when he also finished fifth in MVP voting) and two All-Star teams.

Ellis hasn’t played in the NBA in four seasons, last suiting up for the Indiana Pacers in 2017. Nicknamed the Mississippi Bullet for his breakneck scoring pace and burst on the hardwood, Ellis has played 12 seasons in the NBA with career averages of 17.8 points, 4.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game.

Stephenson’s most recent NBA experience came in 2018-19 with the Los Angeles Lakers, playing in 68 games and averaging 7.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. One of the league’s most colorful characters in recent seasons, Stephenson has played nine total seasons in the NBA with seven different teams, but most of his career was spent with the Indiana Pacers.

It remains to be seen if any of the three players will be signed by the Mavs for the upcoming season but, as of now, all three remain free agents.

The post REPORT: Mavs Host Workout for Isaiah Thomas, Lance Stephenson, Monta Ellis appeared first on SLAM.

News of Stephenson’s interest in a return to the NBA first appeared last month but concerns surrounding the Chinese league he’s played for this season have complicated matters.

The CBA has been put on a hiatus as the country manages the coronavirus outbreak and that has left many NBA players in relative limbo.

Stephenson’s camp could take some comfort in knowing that another America-born CBA player recently managed to procure the necessary clearance to leave the Chinese league and sign an NBA deal. Chasson Randle did it with the Golden State Warriors last week.

For the 29-year-old to receive clearance to sign a contract with Indiana, he’d need clearance from FIBA. He may also need to reach a settlement with his Chinese league squad as Randle did.

A return to Indiana would put Stephenson back on a playoff contender, with a franchise that he’s familiar with. The versatile swingman enjoyed some of his best NBA seasons with the Pacers.

The post Pacers, Lance Stephenson In Talks About Reunion appeared first on SLAM.

Stephenson averaged 26.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game for the CBA’s Liaoning Flying Leopards but the Chinese league’s season was derailed by the Coronavirus outbreak that has devastated the region.

As of February, the CBA has been on a hiatus and most foreign born players have left the region.

There’s no word of which NBA teams might be interested in the veteran swingman but he’s an intriguing upside play. He played for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018-19 but has suited up for seven different franchises since 2014-15.

Stephenson enters the February free agency after a number of relatively valuable players have already been bought out and latched on with new clubs. Available roster space is slowly depleting around the league.

The post Lance Stephenson Seeks NBA Return appeared first on SLAM.

Stephenson, currently toiling away in China, appeared to take offense at Butler’s assessement of his game.

Jimmy says he’s happy to settle this most unexpected feud of the young NBA season with a one-on-one battle.

Per The Sun-Sentinel (via the “Winging It” podcast):

“I was watching guys play, and I was like, ‘I know I’m not that good of a basketball player, but I know I can make it if this guy can make it,’ ” Butler reminisced. “I always saw Lance Stephenson. I saw him, and I was like, ‘Nah man, if he in the league then I can be in the league. He is a talented-a– player, don’t get me wrong, but if he can do it, I can do it.”

Butler initially attempted to blow off Stephenson’s post after the Heat completed their preparations for Tuesday night’s game against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center, before opening up.

“I’m not worried about him,” Butler said. “They asked me a question, I answered the question. Take it for how you want to take it. If he wants a one-on-one battle, I’m all for it. I don’t think at this point, this is just me being honest, right now, me in my career, he in his, he’s not better than me. So, I’m willing to play one-on-one if that’s what, I don’t know, he wants to see, the world wants to see, whatever.

“I’m not intimidated by his tweet. I don’t think it was so much personal, that’s just how I thought back then. I don’t think the same way now, only because I know that I’m a better player.”

Related Jimmy Butler: ‘Motherf****rs Act Like I’m Not a Good Basketball Player’

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Stephenson averaged 7.2 points per game in 68 appearances for the Lakers last season but saw a smaller role than what he had seen previously with the Indiana Pacers.

Stephenson had worked out for NBA teams but never gained traction as a free agent during a whirlwind summer where organizations had plenty of priorities and distractions to balance.

Given Stephenson’s ability to contribute at least modestly to a roster, it’s likely that he would have found a home at some point leading up to or throughout the 2019-20 campaign. It’s unlikely, however, that that any late offer would prove to be more lucrative than the deal he’s ended up agreeing to in China.

The post Lance Stephenson Agrees To $4 Million Deal In China appeared first on SLAM.

“I can confirm that he did step on my foot,” Green told reporters.

Stephenson’s ankle-breaker highlighted the Los Angeles Lakers’ 124-106 blowout of the visiting Washington Wizards.

Per The WaPo:

Even Lakers guard Rajon Rondo joked about turning into an orthopedic specialist on Green’s behalf.

“I kind of said something to him at halftime, I checked his ankles,” Rondo said. “Making sure he was okay. He was fine.”

Green did not trip due to being crossed over. When Stephenson made his final move in dribbling the ball between his legs, his right foot stepped onto Green’s left. Green saw the Lakers’ bench reaction and heard the roar of the Staples Center crowd. However, following the game, Green probably got a better sense of the play’s impact after checking Twitter. The word ‘Lance’ trended for most of the night. So, when asked about the play, Green smiled and played along.

“I can confirm that he did step on my foot,” Green said. “But you know, run with it. I don’t care. He ‘crossed me.’ If that makes everybody happy.”

The post Jeff Green: Lance Stephenson ‘Did Step on My Foot’ appeared first on SLAM.

Lakers coach Luke Walton reportedly confronted the team’s veteran players after the loss, according to The Athletic‘s Shams Charania.

As uncertainty surrounds Lakers into deadline week, several veterans — including Michael Beasley — had an emotionally-charged verbal exchange with head coach Luke Walton postgame tonight, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @WatchStadium. It stopped short of turning physical.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2019

Michael Beasley, Lance Stephenson and JaVale McGee were reportedly upset with Walton’s emphasis on “playing unselfishly,” per Charania.

The argument never got physical and in ESPN‘s report, written by Dave McMenamin, McGee and Beasley challenged Walton on his substitution patterns.

Another source of frustration for Walton, per McMenamin, was Beasley referring to him as “bro” several times.

But the argument has apparently been blown out of proportion.

Stephenson posted an Instagram story that read: “Media decided to add Lance Stephenson. I’m in a very happy place. Nothing but positive. If u going to write a story get the real facts please.”

And a source told ESPN‘s Ramona Shelburne that “It never got close to getting out of control, people are always emotional after a loss.”

A Lakers player reportedly told Marc Spears from The Undefeated that “Nothing crazy happened. Luke said some things. The players said some things back. No one was disrespected. Nothing crazy was said.”

The Lakers next game is on Tuesday night against the Indiana Pacers.

h/t The Athletic, ESPN

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The Zer0.2s are highlighted by a multi-color upper with an array of materials and textures making for a truly wild silhouette. The shoe’s key piece of technology is the Max Volume Nike Zoom Bag located in the forefoot which Nike says will allow for “Maximum Propulsion.” Retail is set at $120 and the shoe is slated for a global release beginning January 10, 2019.

Brodie wasn’t the only one in Los Angeles making waves with his sneaker game. Paul George returned home and dropped 37 points in his sick Nike PG 2.5 salmon colored PEs while former teammate Lance Stephenson tried his best to steal the show as he wore both the Packer x Reebok Kamikaze II “Chili Pepper” and the Nike LeBron 11 Low SE. Despite missing the game, LeBron James managed to turn heads in the much hyped A-COLD-WALL* x Nike Air Force 1 Low. And if that wasn’t enough, Josh Hart brought out the Nike Kobe 11 Elite Low “ASG” and Lonzo Ball showcased his triple-black BBB ZO2.19.

While the sneaker spotlight was definitely on L.A., Derrick Jones Jr. made sure to flex his sneaker game with the “EYBL” Nike Zoom KD 4 and it looks like “Wave Papi” Kelly Oubre Jr. has quickly gotten friendly with his Suns teammates as he donned Devin Booker’s Nike Zoom Kobe 1 Protro PEs. As for Book, he once again took the court in a Nike Kyrie Low PE also done in a Phoenix colorway.

Scroll through the rest of the NBA’s best kicks from Wednesday night right below.

Photos via Getty Images

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Laker fans, still angry over George snubbing them and re-signing in OKC last summer, showered the All-Star forward with vitriol.

Staples Center just booed Paul George as loud as I've heard them boo anyone. pic.twitter.com/mhYr0UDoNJ

— Harrison Faigen (@hmfaigen) January 3, 2019

PG overcame early foul trouble to lead the way for the Thunder.

Paul George rebounds to lift #Thunder to 107-100 win over the Lakers (via @maddie_m_lee) https://t.co/1aKLBjN3AS

— NewsOKThunder (@NewsOKThunder) January 3, 2019

Per The Oklahoman:

Things had not been going well for George overall in the first quarter. He had made just two of his six shots, none of his 3-point attempts. He was clearly frustrated, clapping angrily after a layup arced over the rim. And every time he touched the ball the Lakers fans booed, making their displeasure known that he had stayed in Oklahoma City after being expected to leave for L.A. in free agency.

“The booing wasn’t going to throw me off my game,” George said. “I’ve been playing basketball for a really long time and a little booing and a little noise was not going to make me forget how to play basketball.”

[Russell] Westbrook finished the night 3-of-20 from the field – but still finished the night with a triple-double (14 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists).

Related
Paul George: ‘Unfortunately, Wasn’t Traded to the Lakers’

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After making headlines on Christmas Day with his “Stewie” Nike LeBron 6s, P.J. Tucker was back with another insane flex as he brought out the 2008 Nike Hyperdunk Supreme “Barcelona Ronaldinho.” Allonzo Trier, the current front runner for the NBA rookie sneaker crown, stayed in the holiday spirit as he rocked the Nike Zoom Kobe 8 “Christmas,” which originally released back in 2012.

Lance Stephenson showed South Florida some love as he donned the “Miami Dolphins” Nike Air Max Penny V while Courtney Lee kept the tropical vibes going with “The Academy” Nike PG 2. De’Aaron Fox welcomed the Lakers to town in the Lake Show’s team colored “Court Purple” Nike Kobe 9 Elite while Terry Rozier visited Houston while rocking a new colorway of the Puma Court Clyde Disrupt in a Rockets friendly color of black/red.

Peep the recap below and let us know your opinion on who had the best kicks in the comments.

Photos via Getty Images

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Langston Galloway was definitely in the holiday spirit as he rocked another custom pair of Q4 495 Specialist. Like all the incredible customs he’s worn this season, this pair was created by Andrew Lewis and features a portraits of the Grinch and his trusty dog, Max. Lauri Markkanen also felt the holiday vibes as he donned another vintage LeBron model going with the “Christmas” 11s.

Fans of Kyrie Irving’s latest model, the Nike Kyrie 5, were treated to a few colorways on the night led by Kyrie himself rocking the “Just Do It,” Jayson Tatum in the “Brotherhood” colorway and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in the “Taco PE.” Lance Stephenson made sure to get noticed in the Air Jordan XV Retro Doernbecher Freestyle and Swipa rocked the “Influence” Nike Kobe 9 Elite. Closing out, Montrezl Harrell and Kevin Durant both doubled up again as Trezz wore the “Vegas Nights” adidas D Rose 773 III and the “Mint” Nike LeBron 14 Low while KD rocked two colorways of his Nike KD11.

Get a glimpse of these holiday kicks and the rest of the Sunday’s best NBA footwork in the gallery below.

Photos via Getty Images

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In the summer of 2015, the Charlotte Hornets traded the 6-5 Brooklyn guard to the Clippers in exchange for Matt Barnes and Spencer Hawes. His time in Los Angeles would end up being quick and frustrating, as his playing time dwindled from the start and he never truly found his rhythm and role within the rotation. Eventually, by the time the trade deadline came around, Stephenson’s stint in L.A. had come to an end—he was subsequently traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Jeff Green. The short-lived tenure in the City of Angeles, which surely left a bad taste in Stephenson’s mouth, led to a three-year expedition that ultimately brought him back—this time in the purple and gold as he looks for a little redemption.

After he was moved to the Grizzlies, Stephenson’s time in the League got even rockier. Despite averaging a career-best 14.2 points in his 26 games with the team to finish off the regular season in Memphis, including a career-high 33-point performance against the New Orleans Pelicans and then a 26-point outing in the playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs, the franchise declined to pick up his team option for the final year of his contract.

This would lead to the toughest point in his career: the 2016-17 campaign. He signed with the Pelicans that offseason but after suffering a groin injury just two weeks into the regular season, which ruled him out for six to 10 weeks and required surgery, he was waived by the team just three days later. He waited around for a call from another team for three months before the Minnesota Timberwolves, who had lost guard Zach LaVine for the remainder of the season to an ACL injury, called offering only a 10-day contract. Yet less than a week after signing with the Wolves, Stephenson found himself battling another nagging injury—this time a grade 2 ankle sprain. He’d nonetheless earned a second 10-day contract with the team before being waived by the franchise after only appearing in six games.

“I had times when I felt like, Man, I don’t think I’m going to be in the League next year. But I always knew that if I worked hard and believed in myself and put God first, I’d have a chance,” Stephenson says. “I was controlling what I could control and that was being in the gym and just working hard because I knew my chance would come again.”

Less than two weeks later, in a rather surprising turn of events, the Indiana Pacers signed the former Coney Island prodigy to a three-year deal, marking the fifth team Stephenson had joined in less than two seasons. The grand return to Indiana, where he first earned his “Lance Makes Em Dance” and “Sir Lance A Lot” monikers, brought back his old swag while giving the Pacers a much-needed energy and confidence spark off the bench. Last season, he helped play a role in Indiana almost defeating the Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs, coming within 5 points of a Game 7 victory.

“It’s crazy because I went from getting hurt, to the team cutting me, to then doing 10-days with the Timberwolves and then signing a three-year contract with the Pacers,” he says. “It was like, unbelievable. It was definitely amazing and I think that was God answering all my prayers—and just all the hard work I went through to get the opportunity that I got. Just going from not playing at all and doing 10 days to being on a team that actually uses you as much as possible, and then helping the team win—that was amazing.

“I knew what I could do. I just needed the opportunity. I just knew that if I could get the minutes and the playing time to show my talent, I knew what I could do in this League. And so [the Pacers] gave me an opportunity as soon as I came back to the team. I mean, I worked so hard and everything was coming easy to me. When you have a team that believes in you and pushes you to be great, your talent does the rest.”

The Pacers declined their team option for the final year of Lance’s contract last June, which paved the way for him to become a free agent. A week or so later, an incoming call from Magic Johnson secured Stephenson’s return to Los Angeles, where he now looks to take care of unfinished business and redeem the short-lived tenure at Staples Center from three years ago.

“Definitely going through all the situations that I went through after I left the Pacers—being on five different teams—I just feel like it was a great experience through the ups and downs. I learned from all the ups and downs that I went through. I think it made me stronger and it made me the person I am now,” he says. “I learned that you gotta stay positive and you gotta stay hungry throughout the tough times when I wasn’t even playing or getting as much playing time as I wanted. I stuck with it. I learned that I could control only what I could control, and that was getting in the gym and working harder every day, pushing myself to be better and just watching a lot of film. Mostly it was keeping my body in shape because when you’re not playing that much you could get out of shape easily. So my goal was to always be in shape because you never know when your opportunity comes.”

His return to Hollywood has helped bring his flashy NYC-bred handles and off-the-dribble moves back to the national stage, and only five weeks into the season, he’s already become a fan-favorite. He’s shown flashes of the kind of impact and spark he can bring to a team. In only the second week of the season he dropped 23 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists against the Phoenix Suns off the bench, shooting 10-14 from the floor.

“I was at home chilling and I got that call from Magic,” he says. “I was like, No way! They want me on the Lakers? And with LeBron and the young fellas we have, I was like, I can’t turn this down. I’m just happy for this opportunity and I feel like as I continue to work, many [more] blessings are going to come.

“I was like, You think LeBron wants me on this team?!” he continues. “I definitely knew that playing alongside him I could help him and help bring in that energy and that toughness, that defense, and also a clutch performance in some games—I feel like I’m built for tough, close games. I knew I could help this unit. I’ve now played for Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and now Magic Johnson. Talking to those great players helped my game out, just learning how they think.”

A highly touted prospect since his early days at famed Lincoln High School, where he led the school to four consecutive city championships and was ranked among the top-10 players in the Class of 2009, the past eight years since his arrival to the NBA have given the former Cincinnati Bearcat a different perspective on the game and his role. The humbling experiences and particularly the obstacles of the past four years have set the stage for his return to L.A., where he now looks to prove why the Born Ready nickname rings true today more than ever.

“When you’re a rookie, you gotta understand that everyone is good. You might not get your opportunity when you first come in. I remember my first two years I was sitting in a suit behind the bench,” Lance says. “What I took from it was I learned as much as I could from the older guys and what they brought to the table that kept them on the court and kept them in the rotation. It’s not about talent. You gotta know the game. You gotta know the plays, every position, to get on that floor. Eventually you learn you can’t just go. You gotta do it with a team.”

—

GRAB YOUR COPY OF SLAM 219 HERE!

Franklyn Calle is an Associate Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @FrankieC7. 

Portraits by Ryan Young.

The post BORN READY: The Lance Stephenson Show Is Back in Los Angeles 🍿 appeared first on SLAM.

Air Jordans showed out as well on Sunday with a couple of models spotted around the league. Jeff Green wore the “Flint” Air Jordan XIX Retro and Lance Stephenson broke out the SoleFly x Air Jordan XVI. After missing the last two games, Jimmy Butler returned to the Sixers and hit the floor wearing the Air Jordan XXX while Kawhi Leonard continued to rock his Air Jordan XXXII Low PE.

Trey Lyles stayed true to his Kobes with the Nike Zoom Kobe 6 “Grinch” and James Johnson brought out the “Gold Medal” Nike Zoom KD IV. Last but not least, Troy Williams also went with some Mambas as he brought out the “3D” Nike Kobe 11 and Markieff Morris went with the extra clean “Elemental Rose” Nike Air Foamposite One.

Peep the rest of Sunday night’s NBA sneaker game below.

Photos via Getty Images

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We attended one of his classes and got an exclusive look at the Sir Lance A Lot Workout Plan. Peep the video above to watch Born Ready in action.

The post Lance Stephenson Is a Part-Time Dance Instructor in L.A., Launches Workout Plan 🕺 appeared first on SLAM.

While Curry was breaking necks in Oakland, the night’s marquee event was going down in Los Angeles as Dwyane Wade squared off against LeBron James one last time. For this final matchup, James sported a Lakers colorway of the Nike LeBron 16 while Wade went with the Li-Ning All City 7. Lance Stephenson continued his strong sneaker campaign as went with the “Calvin Bailey” Air Jordan IX Retro.

Montrezl Harrell got KD fans hyped as he brought out two pairs of the Nike Zoom KD 4: the “Galaxy” and the “Year of the Dragon.” Staying with the throwback theme, the Bulls Lauri Markkanen wore the Nike LeBron X while Jeff Teague rocked the “SVSM” Nike Air Zoom Generation Retro. Last but not least, Gary Harris may have missed last night’s game, but he certainly didn’t miss an opportunity to flex as he broke necks from the sideline in the “Rust Pink” Air Jordan I Retro High OG NRG.

Make sure to peep close to 40 of the night’s best NBA kicks in our latest recap.

Photos via Getty Images

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We lead off in Brooklyn where Russell Westbrook broke out a new bright green edition of his Jordan Why Not Zer0.1 while Paul George dropped 47 points, including the game-winner in the “Creamsicle” colorway of his Nike PG 2.5.  Rondae Hollis-Jefferson got his kicks noticed as he wore a multi-color version of the Nike Kyrie 4.

Kobes have always been a staple of our daily NBA KOTNs and tonight was no different as several players took the floor rocking various colorways of the Nike Kobe A.D. Exodus including Giannis Antetokounmpo, sneaker free agent Andrew Wiggins, DeMar DeRozan and Andre Iguodala.  A couple of guys opted to rock more coveted silhouettes as Kyle Kuzma and Jeff Teague donned pairs from the Prelude collection and Kelly Oubre Jr. went with another wear of the “Olympic” Nike Zoom Kobe 7.

Lance Stephenson was also feeling the Olympic vibe as he brought out the Air Jordan VI Retro while LeBron James debuted his latest Nike LeBron 16, the “I’m King” model which features an all-black upper with gold details. On the topic of debuts, Danny Green wore the newest Puma Clyde Court Disrupt release, the “Ocean Drive” which is set to drop this Saturday, December 8.

For all 50 of last night’s best kicks, just keep on scrolling through.

Photos via Getty Images

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Teammate Kyle Kuzma says James—who shot 19 for 31 from the field, and also grabbed eight rebounds—“could probably average 40 if he wanted to.”

LeBron James passed the half-century mark, scoring 32 points more than anyone else on the floor.

“Just give him the ball and get out of the way. … He could probably average 40 if he wanted to." — Kyle Kuzmahttps://t.co/nym3uWe9A9

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 19, 2018

Sitting on 48 points with time running out and the outcome no longer in doubt, LeBron gladly accepted Lance Stephenson‘s dare to shoot a three-pointer in order to reach the half-century mark.

.@KingJames talks with @miketrudell after erupting for 51 pts against Miami. #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/4D1bFTZ3gU

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) November 19, 2018

Per the AP:

“I bet you won’t go for the 3,” Stephenson said.

The Heat probably wish that conversation never took place. James’ capped his 51-point night with a 32-foot 3-pointer in the final seconds, pointed at Stephenson to let him know he was wrong, and the Lakers rolled past the Heat 113-97 for their seventh win in their last nine games.

James reached 50 for the 13th time in his career, including Game 1 of last season’s NBA Finals.

“It’s always great to be here,” said James, who hugged a slew of familiar faces in the arena he used to call home. “We had some not-so-good times, we had more great times, so it’s always a respect factor and a love for the people in Miami and especially the people who work here.”

Related
Kyle Kuzma Says LeBron James ‘Can Score With the Best of Them’

The post ‘He Could Average 40 if He Wanted’: LeBron James Drops 51 on Miami appeared first on SLAM.

LeBron James wowed in a pair of eye-popping “King” Nike LeBron 16s which featured a yellow Battleknit upper accented with a pony hair leopard heel. Kyrie Irving took the floor in a crisp white colorway of his Nike Kyrie 5 which featured white and black graphics on the heel and midfoot with a light teal serving as the shoe’s main color pop. In OKC, the Thunder brought out their sick turquoise City uniforms and Paul George wore a sick iteration of his Nike PG 2.5 that setoff the whole kit. The PGs were done in all turquoise and contrasted with one Pendleton’s signature wool patterns.

On Monday, the world lost an icon with the passing of Marvel’s Stan Lee. With the Nets hosting the Heat in Brooklyn, Spencer Dinwiddie paid homage to Lee with another pair of custom K8IROS Kronos featuring a comic themed design highlighted with Lee’s face and themes from several of Marvel’s biggest titles.

Other notables from Wednesday included “Born Ready” Lance Stephenson bringing out the Air Jordan IV Retro PRM “Snakeskin,” DeMar DeRozan’s OG Nike Kobe A.D., Russell Westbrook’s latest coverless Jordan Why Not Zer0.1, Jayson Tatum’s “Green Lobster” Concepts x Nike Kyrie 4 and Damian Lillard’s “Hecklers” adidas Dame 4 which seems to be designed in response to an Orland heckler that helped motivate him to 41 point performance against the Orlando Magic last month. And last but not least, Jimmy Butler made his Philly debut rocking a pair of white/grey Air Jordan XXXII Lows while Dario Saric and Robert Covington laced up the Nike Hyperdunk X for their first game with Minnesota.

Our biggest gallery recap of the season is right below with over 50 sneaker photos from last night’s NBA games.

Photos via Getty Images

The post NBA Kicks of the Night appeared first on SLAM.

Continuing with Kobes, Giannis Antetokounmpo dropped a triple-double in a red colorway of the Nike Kobe A.D. Exodus and Kelly Oubre Jr. went with the coveted Nike Zoom Kobe 4 “Prelude” and DeMar DeRozan hit the floor in a lowkey Nike Kobe 11 Elite Low.

Aaron Gordon and Markieff Morris represented for Foamposite fans as Gordon donned the all-black Nike Zoom Rookie LWP and Morris suited up in the “Fighter Jet” Nike Air Foamposite One.

Catch the rest of Sunday’s NBA kicks in our gallery below.

Photos via Getty Images

The post NBA Kicks of the Night appeared first on SLAM.

In a re-assurance to Laker Nation, McGee proposes that “all memes aren’t bad.”

Man I wish they could all be like @JaValeMcGee. Here's my @ESPN Mag Q&A w/ @Lakers new big man (+his daughter Gigi – at circus school!) on playing with LeBron, their remodeled "Meme Team" & being the “only NBA player with one rat-tail & two rings." https://t.co/u3c42NHfpX

— Sam Alipour (@samalipour) September 27, 2018

The big fella promises the L.A. faithful a show this season.

Per ESPN:

Pop quiz: What happens when you put Lance Stephenson, Rajon Rondo, Michael Beasley and JaVale on a roster?

McGee: “The Meme Team.”

I’d binge-watch a reality show of that locker room.

McGee: “I would too. It’s definitely gonna be hilarious. But all memes aren’t bad. There are some positive memes out there.”

This roster was designed in part as an answer to Golden State. They wanted guys who can create around LeBron [James] and get under players’ skin. You know the Dubs. Will that help?

McGee: “Definitely. If you look at all the guys we signed, they don’t care about anything other than getting wins. It’s definitely gonna be a show, but these guys are workers, grinders, and there’s gonna be some real fire lit under our asses out there.”

Related
Luke Walton: Lakers Can Be Title Contenders

The post JaVale McGee: ‘Meme Team’ Lakers Will Be Hilarious appeared first on SLAM.

Johnson was blown away by the experience of observing King James from up-close.

Magic already excited by LeBron's offseason impact on Lakers. @gregbeacham https://t.co/CRs34YbKpL

— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) September 21, 2018

Johnson and GM Rob Pelinka believe the Purple and Gold have one of the NBA’s deepest rosters heading into the 2018-19 campaign.

Per the AP:

“Just to see all of them together playing a pickup game, oh my goodness,” Johnson said. “It’s something to watch. I’ve watched LeBron from afar. I’ve been at many of his games. But to watch him in the gym is a whole different thing. How much he makes everybody better, but also how he raises everybody’s level of play. His basketball IQ and his leadership ability, it’s all on display.”

And as if he needed any reminder, Johnson has witnessed the singular skills of the 33-year-old James, who agreed to a four-year, $154 million free-agent deal.

“LeBron comes in, and he’s already in midseason form and shooting fadeaways and 3-pointers from almost half-court,” Johnson said with a broad grin. “And you’re sitting there saying, ‘Man, thank God we signed him.'”

Related
Jeanie Buss: ‘They’re Not Laker Fans if They’re Not Happy About LeBron’

The post Magic Johnson: LeBron James ‘Already in Midseason Form’ appeared first on SLAM.

Stephenson expects James to “sic” him on opponents.

Also, he expects LeBron James “to sic me on people.”
You know with the ear blowing and taunting and all. https://t.co/7jj4ekkbds via @indystar

— Dana HunsingerBenbow (@DanaBenbow) August 30, 2018

When a deal with the Indiana Pacers failed to materialize, Lance inked a one-year contract with the Lakers this summer.

Per the Indy Star:

“Magic (Johnson) called me and he told me LeBron was interested, very interested in me,” Stephenson said. As a teammate. Stephenson told Johnson, “Give me a few hours to make this decision.”

“I decided to go there and, hopefully, we will win a lot of games and have fun,” he said.

He expects all the taunting he did to James through the years – the blowing in the ear, the heckling to draw technical fouls, the bursting into the other team’s huddle – he expects James to ask him to turn that on the Lakers’ opponents.

“Yeah, he’s probably going to sic me on people,” Stephenson said. “It’ll be fun. It will be a very interesting year, just playing with him and winning games with him.”

Related
Lance Stephenson Doesn’t Regret Blowing in LeBron James’ Ear

The post Lance Stephenson: LeBron James ‘Was Interested, Very Interested in Me’ appeared first on SLAM.

Stephenson adds that he doesn’t regret the decision.

Lance and James are now teammates in Los Angeles, and says “being friends with LeBron” will be an interesting experience.

Per The Score:

“I was really trying to get him mad, really trying to win the game, get him unfocused,” Stephenson said. “And I was trying anything, and for you to do something to somebody and they don’t respond, they keep continuing playing hard, it’s like: ‘yo, how do I…’ I was just trying to find stuff.”

“I don’t regret it,” Stephenson added. “But sometimes I look at it like, ‘Why did I do that? What made me do that?'”

The post Lance Stephenson Doesn’t Regret Blowing in LeBron James’ Ear appeared first on SLAM.

Beasley says his new teammate is certainly no bust.

"I've really been at a down state in my career mentally and confidence-wise," Michael Beasley said. Then Magic Johnson called. My conversation with the newest Laker, eternally out there with something to prove: https://t.co/uurlhxLBaf

— Leo Sepkowitz (@LeoSepkowitz) August 9, 2018

Beasley, 29, is excited to join the Los Angeles Lakers and thinks the roster will mesh nicely next season.

Per Bleacher Report:

How much Lonzo Ball tape have you watched? What do you think of his game?

Beasley: “I’m a big Lonzo fan. I don’t understand how Lonzo gets so much criticism, averaging almost 11 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, a steal and a block per game. Granted, his percentages were low, but you all think Russell Westbrook can shoot, and he’s got the same three-point percentage. (Ed: Lonzo’s was a tick higher last year.) Two years ago, Malcolm Brogdon won Rookie of the Year with 10 points and three rebounds a game, but now Lonzo is 11-7-7 and he’s a bust? I’m a Lonzo fan. I think if you just let him play and not worry about if he can shoot or not, I think you will see a player that knows how and wants to play a complete game of basketball. Same thing with Kyle Kuzma. I liked him in college but didn’t know how skilled he was until I played against him in the NBA. Josh Hart, same thing.”

Related
Rajon Rondo: ‘I’m Ready to Help Develop Lonzo [Ball]’

The post Michael Beasley: ‘I Don’t Understand’ the Lonzo Ball Criticism appeared first on SLAM.

James says the last years of his prime aren’t here yet, and that critics are underestimating what the Lakers can accomplish next season.

New story: LeBron tells @Rachel__Nichols that he doesn’t feel like his prime is ending anytime soon; he doesn’t view the Lakers as a rebuilding team; and Rondo/Lance/Beas/McGee all love basketball which he loves about them https://t.co/qVduX4V8zd

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 30, 2018

The 33-year-old adds that he’s looking forward to leading the Lakers’ new-look roster, and hasn’t felt the need to press the front-office for another headliner.

Per ESPN:

“We just got guys that love to play basketball,” James told ESPN’s Rachel Nichols as part of a wide-ranging sit-down interview Monday at the opening of his I Promise School. “At the end of the day, guys that love to play ball, and that’s what they do every single day, I love that. I love that, and I think [Rob] Pelinka and Magic [Johnson] love that as well, and that’s why they made the signings. And bringing Lance [Stephenson] and JaVale [McGee] and [Michael Beasley] and [Rajon] Rondo, they’re guys that every day that they wake up they think about the game of basketball. And everything else is secondary.

“So we look forward to all the challenges. And, I mean, eyebrows are always going to get raised when my name is involved anyway. So it shouldn’t even be a surprise.”

Does he feel like he is sacrificing a year of his prime to play with a team full of the aforementioned signees and an untested young core, rather than staying on a squad that was more championship ready?

“I don’t even look at it like that because I don’t feel like this is going to be one of the last years of my prime,” James said. “That’s another statistic number, and I’ve always been a part of beating the odds in life. So being around my kids a lot, it gives me even more and more time in my youth.

“So I don’t feel like this is even a rebuilding year for us. We have an opportunity to do something that a lot of people don’t think we can do, and we love the notion of it’s another rebuilding year and we don’t have enough. So that will motivate the guys that we have anyways.”

Related
LeBron James: Joining the Lakers a ‘Dream Come True’

The post LeBron James: Not a Rebuilding Year for the Lakers appeared first on SLAM.

Michael Beasley wants everyone to stop judging him and certain other players pic.twitter.com/nGNgZX5vOa

— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) July 23, 2018

“If everyone does their job right and stop judging some players, me mainly, you’ll figure out that guys like me, Nick Young, JR Smith and Lance Stephenson and guys like that actually know how to play basketball, actually know how to basketball games, actually know how to win basketball games and actually know how to get along with others.”

Young excitedly backed up Beasley’s sentiment.

Love it !!! pic.twitter.com/X6B7myTG3z

— Nick Young (@NickSwagyPYoung) July 24, 2018

The Los Angeles Lakers inked the 29-year-old to a one-year deal this summer, and Beasley thinks the team has a chance to be special.

Beasley says new Lakers vets can form solid core around LeBron. @gregbeacham https://t.co/Vg1lB83Lyd

— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) July 24, 2018

Per the AP:

“For there to even be a narrative (about problems with) personalities in this room is judgment enough for me, and I just don’t want to be a part of it,” Beasley said.

[Magic] Johnson provided Beasley with a detailed description of his likely role with the Lakers. Beasley also is willing to be a vocal leader to the Lakers’ gifted young players, including Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart.

“I think they’re all special in their own way,” Beasley said. “I think Josh Hart, Ingram, Kuz, Ball, I think they can all at some point in their careers be All-Stars and be leaders of their team. I think Luke [Walton] did a great job with those guys, especially in the second half of the season, getting those guys to play and getting those guys to buy into what he believes in. … I feel like they can be anything they want to be.”

The post Michael Beasley Doesn’t Want to Be Judged appeared first on SLAM.

Stephenson, 27, had developed a strong bond with Indiana’s basketball community.

Exclusive: I sat down with @StephensonLance in Las Vegas after a workout. He reflected on his time in Indiana, the fans, seeking stability, and LeBron.https://t.co/PdN9N7WJrS pic.twitter.com/PvyLdVsbHm

— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) July 19, 2018

Lance says he’s excited for a fresh start in Hollywood.

Per Vigilant Sports:

How much do you feel Indiana fans, how much they appreciate you and what you were able to do with the Pacers?

Stephenson: “I love the fans there. Living there and being involved with the fans, seeing them every day, it was blessing. I felt very loved there. I think it’s sad … [pause] leaving here this time than the first time.”

Why’s that? Why do you feel that?

Stephenson: “I just felt like I was never going to leave again. For me leaving this time, it was like, ‘Man… this is happening again?’ I’m definitely happy where I’m at right now. The team that I’m on we got a chance to compete for something major, and I’m going to take this opportunity and try to go high with it.”

So this summer, you fully expected to continue on in Indy?

Stephenson: “Ah, man. I never … I was even surprised when they declined my option. Just to be a free agent again this year was like, ‘Man, again…” I was definitely upset, but you move on from stuff like that, and you learn and you get stronger from it.”

Related
PG on Pacers Declining Lance’s Option: ‘And I was the bad guy huh?!’

The post Lance Stephenson Sad to Leave Indiana appeared first on SLAM.

James reportedly has designs on following the same path taken by Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant as their games evolved.

When LeBron James & Magic Johnson met last weekend they plotted a new course for his career. The Lakers roster moves this week are the beginning of those changes (w/ @ramonashelburne): https://t.co/LeGc46lYYp

— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) July 5, 2018

LeBron is also said to be onboard with Magic Johnson‘s unconventional vision for the roster, one that includes Lance Stephenson, JaVale McGee and Rajon Rondo.

Per ESPN:

Playing more like Bryant and Jordan will take time and patience, and James told Johnson that some habits will be hard to break, sources said. But James knows playing more inside and yielding some control of the ball is important as he ages and his athleticism starts to fade. At 6-foot-8, 260 pounds with great vision and passing skills, he may be better equipped for success than the smaller Jordan and Bryant.

According to multiple sources within the Lakers and close to James, this is the rollout of a plan Johnson outlined for James the night of June 30 at James’ home. The subsequent deals, which sources say James has consulted on but have been executed at Johnson and Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka’s direction, follow this vision.

“Unlike most free agents changing teams, LeBron is arriving with the Lakers as an all-time great,” a source close to James said. “He doesn’t have pressure to prove anything. He wants some changes, and he can afford to let the process breathe.”

Related
Kobe Bryant: Laker Dreams ‘Substantially Bigger Now’ With LeBron James

The post Report: LeBron James to Focus on Post Play With the Lakers appeared first on SLAM.

Sources: It’s a one-year, $4.5 million deal. https://t.co/DUcYC4EDNo

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 2, 2018

Stephenson averaged 10 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists during the Pacers’ first round playoff series against the Cavs.

The League's most entertaining player is headed to Hollywood. Hype. pic.twitter.com/gveX9PcfN3

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) July 2, 2018

The post Lance Stephenson Reportedly Agrees to One-Year Deal with Lakers appeared first on SLAM.

In a post on Instagram, George wrote, “Wow and I was the bad guy huh?!”—referring to the criticism he received for asking out of Indiana last summer.

“Wow and I was the bad guy huh?!

“In this business you do what’s right for YOU! #PacerLegend”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkdcESlhTVU/

RELATED:
Report: Pacers To Decline Lance Stephenson’s $4.3M Option

The post PG on Pacers Declining Lance’s Option: ‘And I was the bad guy huh?!’ appeared first on SLAM.

Indiana is aiming for maximum financial flexibility heading into free agency, per Shams.

The Indiana Pacers are declining Lance Stephenson’s $4.3M team option and he’ll be a free agent, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 25, 2018

According to ESPN’s Chris Haynes, the Pacers are expected to target unrestricted free agents Tyreke Evans and Will Barton in July.

Still, Indiana hasn’t closed the door on re-signing Stephenson after its free-agent priorities are addressed, per Haynes.

ESPN Sources: With Indiana declining team option on Lance Stephenson, Tyreke Evans and Will Barton are expected to be two of its free-agent targets.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 25, 2018

RELATED:
Jeff Green: ‘There’s A Big-Ass Parking Lot’ If Lance Stephenson Wants To Fight

The post Report: Pacers To Decline Lance Stephenson’s $4.3M Option appeared first on SLAM.

@gmb_chum12 x Dyckman

A post shared by Corey Porter (@cporter_) on Jun 23, 2018 at 10:01am PDT

(Lance Stephenson also made an appearance.)

The previous night, Scary Terry called up Danny Ainge, and got him to publicly reveal Boston’s pick ahead of the NBA Draft.

Per ESPN:

“I got to draft a point guard,” Ainge joked when Rozier, Boston’s postseason starter while Kyrie Irving was injured, first asked about the team’s selection. Pressed for the actual pick, Ainge answered, “It’s going to be Bob Williams, but we’re looking at all the medical stuff.”

After Thursday’s draft concluded, Ainge admitted he was unaware that Rozier was calling during a live broadcast.

“I was obviously joking with Terry about the guard position. I had no idea I was on live, whatever it was,” Ainge said. “I thought he was FaceTiming me. I had no idea. But, anyway, that is sort of funny. We’re excited about Robert, and we felt like he was the best player available, and we think he’s a great fit for our team.”

The post Terry Rozier Puts on a Show at Dyckman Park appeared first on SLAM.

The Lancestagram has been full of drip since the season ended, so it’s only fitting this was the track he hopped on.

Check out the Brooklyn-natives’ new track on Spotify and Apple Music.

RELATED: Lonzo Ball Releases ‘Kylie Kuzma,’ Diss Track About Kyle Kuzma

The post Lance Stephenson Drops ‘Drip’ Track with Shon Dollar 💧 appeared first on SLAM.

The aggressive Stephenson ended up wrestling Green to the floor and getting whistled for a foul.

Green stepped to the line and calmly sunk a free throw, helping the Cavs secure a 104-100 victory to even the series at 2-2.

Afterwards, Green talked to ESPN‘s Dave McMenamin about the altercation:

“Honestly, it was nothing,” Jeff Green told ESPN after Stephenson was called for a foul on him with 9.0 seconds left in the game when he tried to force a jump ball and ended up bringing Green to the floor. “I mean, I may have reacted because I’m not going to allow him to do what he did, but other than that, it’s nothing.

“He’s not going to fight. I’m not going to fight. It’s not worth it. I mean, if we wanted to fight, there’s a big-ass parking lot out there and we can fight. But at the end of the day, my job is to keep my composure, go to the free throw line, knock one down and then move on. It’s not worth it to give that extra energy to him.”

Game 5 is Wednesday at 7pm ET in Cleveland.

RELATED
LeBron James Disputes Technical Foul vs Lance Stephenson

The post Jeff Green: ‘There’s A Big-Ass Parking Lot’ If Lance Stephenson Wants To Fight appeared first on SLAM.

LeBron added, however, that he “should know better” when it comes to Lance’s antics.

James finished with 32 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists in Cleveland’s 104-100 crucial road win, which knotted things up with Indiana at 2-2.

Per the Indy Star:

“I should have never gotten a tech in the first place,” said James. “A timeout is called, this guy’s fouling me to my bench. I give him a little nudge and he falls to halfcourt. But I should know better. But I’ve been dealing with this since elementary (school). It’s like I tell you a joke, you laugh, you get caught. That’s what happened. Lance told me a joke. I a laughed. Teacher caught me. Now I got to go see the principal.”

James may have gotten in trouble, but he also got the last laugh. After Victor Oladipo made the technical free throw to put the Pacers ahead by three, James answered with a 16-foot bank shot after the timeout to pull Cleveland to within one. The a few minutes later, the Cavaliers went on a 10-2 run, and the Pacers’ offense sputtered down the stretch.

“He reminds me of when I played, when I first got in the league, guys were physical,” said Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue. “He’s going to be a physical player offensively and defensively. You love that physicality he brings. Sometimes they’re going to call it, sometimes they’re not. But we did a good job of playing through the physicality, playing through all whatever it is. But I like his style. He comes in, he plays hard, he plays tough. He’s not going to back down from anyone. That’s what you need on your team.”

The post LeBron James Disputes Technical Foul vs Lance Stephenson appeared first on SLAM.

In the same game, Kemba Walker went with some low-key custom “Aces” Air Jordan X Retros while while Malik Monk wore the Nike Kobe A.D. Mid.

Despite missing out on almost the entire season, Mike Conley Jr has consistently managed to flex on the sidelines. Last night, Conley wore the eye catching  Commes Des Garcons x Nike Air Max 180 collaboration while in Los Angeles, two pairs of Nike Zoom LeBron Soldier XIs and Spida Mitchell’s adidas Dame 4s managed to catch our attention.

Thomas Bryant sported a Lakes colorway of the Soldier XI while Jae Crowder donned the “Wheat” versions. On Mitchell’s feet was a sick custom pair featuring a design inspired by Marvel’s Venom.

Peep the rest of Sunday’s NBA kicks in our latest gallery.

Photos via Getty Images

The post NBA Kicks of the Night appeared first on SLAM.

While James was impressing with his latest kicks, PJ Tucker continued to do the same with his pairs of the “Red October” inspired Nike Air Trainer SC and the “Red Suede” Air Jordan V Retros from the 2009 “Raging Bull” pack. Despite Tucker’s torrid sneaker pace, Lance Stephenson is managing to hang on to his NBA sneaker title dreams as he donned a pair of the Just Don x Air Jordan II “Beach.”

And last but not least, Jusuf Nurkic got in on the custom fun as he wore a pair of the Nike Zoom Rev 2018 emblazoned with the “Rip City” logo and his no.27.

Peep game and peruse through Thursday night’s best NBA kicks.

Photos via Getty Images

The post NBA Kicks of the Night appeared first on SLAM.

King James’ latest Nike LeBron 15 from the “LeBron Watch” collection paid homage to Ken Griffey Jr. and his old signature model, the Air Griffey Max. Doernbecher was on the minds of P.J. Tucker and Montrezl Harrell with both players rocking the DB editions of the Air Jordan VI Retro and Nike Air More Uptempo respectively. In addition to the “BPM” Uptempos, Harrell also rocked a “Simpsons” themed model of the Air Jordan XX9 , done by Kickstradomis.

In addition to Harrell’s “Simpsons” creation, Kickstradomis’ work was also seen on the feet of Trevor Booker as he wore a wild pair of “X-Men” Nike Hyperdunk 2017s and Lance Stephenson showed his fandom for the wildly popular game Fortnite with a Trophy Room x Air Jordan XVI custom.

Other notable kicks on display included Kevin Durant’s debut of the “What The” Nike KDX, Dwyane Wade rocking a strapless Li-Ning Way of Wade 6, Jayson Tatum showcasing the “Year of the Monkey” Nike Kyrie 4 and Nick Young wearing an unreleased adidas model. On top of all that, Sterling Brown wore the Air Jordan III Tinker, Trey Burke in the Nike Zoom Hyperdunk 2011 SPRM “Galaxy,” and Damian Lillard and Donovan Mitchell both wearing the “Scarlet” adidas Dame 4.

With all these incredible NBA kicks in one night, you surely won’t want to miss our latest recap.

Photos via Getty Images

The post NBA Kicks of the Night appeared first on SLAM.

We begin with some all-new colorways as LeBron James broke out another classic “Air Max 95” colorway on his Nike LeBron 15 this time running with the “Safety Orange” theme while Paul George debuted a sick grey based Nike PG2 accented with teal and purple hits.

In the chase for the NBA’s sneaker king title, P.J Tucker strengthened his case with a pair of Marquette Air Jordan III Retro PEs and a pair of the “Varsity Red” Air Jordan X Retro. Lance Stephenson brought out a very personal custom pair of the Air Jordan XIII “Altitude” which featured a “Born Ready” version of the team’s Hickory jersey and the Bad Boy logo painted on the sides. Myles Turner also went the custom route as he hit the hardwood in his “Storm Trooper” themed Nike PG1. Both customs were done by Kickstradomis.

Last but not least, despite sitting out with an injury, Gary Harris made sure to flex on Easter Sunday with the pastel colored and much coveted Sean Wotherspoon x Nike Air Max 1/97.

Make sure to peep the rest of Easter’s best NBA kicks.

Photos via Getty Images

The post NBA Kicks of the Night appeared first on SLAM.

In Detroit, Stanley Johnson had fans ‘heads salivating with a wear of the “Krispy Kreme” Nike Kyrie 2 while Andre Drummond went with the “I’m Back” Air Jordan X Retro en route to a monstrous 24-point, 23-board performance.

John Wall, still recovering from his knee injury, managed to snap some necks with his adidas Crazy BYW X “Wall Way” PE which he would’ve worn during this past NBA All-Star game. Markieff Morris rocked a classic as he wore the OG Nike Air Foamposite One colorway.

Lance Stephenson also rocked a classic as he donned the Air Jordan III Retro “Black Cement.” Sticking with Jordans, Hassan Whiteside wore a sick pair of Air Jordan XI Retro customs featuring the Joker and his famous “Why So Serious?” line.

Wayne Ellington brought out the much hyped Off White x Nike Hyperdunk 2017. And last, but not least, Nick Young low-key stunted with his denim adidas Top Ten 2000 from his “Still Swaggy” collection.

Photos via Getty Images

The post NBA Kicks of the Night appeared first on SLAM.

Ahead of Air Max Day, LeBron James debuted the “AM95” edition of his Nike LeBron 15 from the “LeBron Watch” collection. The shoe draws its colorway inspiration from the OG Air Max 95 “Neon.” James’ teammate, Jordan Clarkson, also wore a pair of notable ‘Brons as he took the floor in the “Wheat” Nike LeBron 12.

Contenders for this year’s NBA sneaker crown came out in full force with both P.J. Tucker and Montrezl Harrell doubling up once again and Lance Stephenson wearing some DB bangers. Tucker went with a two pairs of vintage Nike LeBron 6s as he pulled out the “Big Apple” joint as well as the incredibly rare “Business” model which features a pinstripe upper. Harrell went with Jordan Melo 1.5s and the “Sunset” Nike Kobe 11 and Lance Stephenson wore the “BPM” Nike Air More Uptempo Doernbecher.

If those kicks aren’t enough to satisfy your appetite for NBA sneakers, then make sure to peep the rest of our Sunday night recap below.

Photos via Getty Images

The post NBA Kicks of the Night appeared first on SLAM.

In Indianapolis, Lance Stephenson had some sneaker issues as the sole on his vintage pair of Nike Zoom Huarache 2k4 KB’s came off during the Pacers affair with the Lakers. The mishap wasn’t a major one as Born Ready continued play before switching to the “Obsidian” Air Jordan XV Retro. Kyle Kuzma continued his impressive rookie season dropping 27 points while rocking the UNDFTD x Nike Zoom Kobe 1 Protro.

The New York Knicks had a few notable kicks on the night as Emmanuel Mudiay’s rocked a fresh pair of white and iridescent Under Armour Heatseekers, Tim Hardaway Jr. went with the Air Jordan XIII Retro “Hyper Royal” and Troy Williams wore the “March Madness” Nike PG2.

Peep the rest of Monday’s NBA kicks in our gallery just ahead.

Photos via Getty Images

The post NBA Kicks of the Night appeared first on SLAM.

Did … did Jason Terry just blow in Stephenson’s ear? pic.twitter.com/6cCAZbVqgI

— Brew Hoop (@brewhoop) March 6, 2018

Stephenson, however, claims that not only did Terry bite his most infamous stunt, but that he returned the favor.

Just filed my updated story for the @journalsentinel. While we wait for it to post, I asked Jason Terry and he says he did not blow in Lance Stephenson's ear in the second quarter. "I ain't gonna steal another man's move," Terry said. He openly admits to talking smack, though.

— Matt Velazquez (@Matt_Velazquez) March 6, 2018

Spoke with #Lance Stephenson briefly after the game. Said he blew in Jason Terry's ear because Terry blew in Stephenson's ear first. "I had to get him back." Stephenson said.

— Clifton Brown (@CliftonGBrown) March 6, 2018

Stephenson had the final laugh, as the Indiana Pacers held on to a 92-89 win against the visiting Milwaukee Bucks.

Per the Journal Sentinel:

During the second half, Lance Stephenson apparently intentionally tripped John Henson away from the play, but there was no foul called. Henson was understandably incensed during an ensuing break inand asked for a review that did not take place. …

Stephenson was involved in another notable play in the second quarter. Terry knocked down a corner three-pointer to tie the game at 26 and then proceeded to run up to Stephenson and apparently blow in his ear — a move Stephenson is known for dating back to the 2014 playoffs when he did that to LeBron James.

After the game, Terry denied blowing in Stephenson’s ear, saying he was just talking trash. “I ain’t gonna steal another man’s move,” Terry said.

The post Jason Terry Denies Blowing in Lance Stephenson’s Ear appeared first on SLAM.

Montrezl Harrell put in work in both the Air Jordan VI Retro CNY and the “Olive” XIIIs while Otto Porter Jr. wore the XXXII CNYs. Lance Stephenson flexed in the Supreme x Air Jordan V “Camo” before hitting the floor in the black OVO x Air Jordan Xs. In Detroit, Andre Drummond went with a classic as he played in the “Black Toe” Air Jordan XIV and Orlando’s Elfrid Payton has been stepping up his sneaker game as he went with the Air Jordan IV Retro “Oreo.”

Vince Carter went “boing” as he brought out a vintage pair of his Nike Shox Vision TB PEs which released back in 2009. Markieff Morris also went with some older joints as he donned the “Pearl” Nike Air Foamposite Pros and Dirk Nowitzki reached the 50,000-minute plateau in Los Angeles while rocking the BHM Nike Hyperdunk 2017s.

Scroll through the gallery below to see all of the kicks.

Photos via Getty Images

The post NBA Kicks of the Night appeared first on SLAM.

Late in the Pacers’ 97-95 comeback win over the Cavaliers, Stephenson knocked the ball away from James and out of bounds. He then got in LeBron’s way and the two exchanged words as James gave him a push. James was then hit with a technical for his role.

LeBron James gets the tech after a little shove on Lance Stephenson pic.twitter.com/yHQUNzrKC0

— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) January 13, 2018

It wasn’t quite the famous blowing-in-the-ear incident of 2014, but it got the job done for Stephenson. The Cavs have now lost three in a row and eight out of 11.

The post Lance Stephenson Goads LeBron James Into Technical appeared first on SLAM.

Not to be outdone, Russell Westbrook wore an equally loud Air Jordan XX8 SE in the Thunder’s loss to the Pelicans. Paul George wore a blazing yellow colorway of his Nike PG1 while Jerami Grant – who has been quietly putting up a solid sneaker campaign – wore the Nike Air Penny IV Retro.

A pair of sneaker throne contenders collided in Orlando as Terrence Ross and Lance Stephenson faced off. Both players rocked all-black Air Jordan Retros. Ross went with the “Master” Air Jordan XII and Born Ready had the “Black Cat” Air Jordan XIII. Victor Oladipo continued his incredible year with a 29 point performance for Indiana. Oladipo – who began the season rocking a PE colorway of the Air Jordan XXXII – has worn the all-white Nike React Hyperdunk 2017 in his last few games.

The rest of Monday night’s NBA sneaker action is just a few clicks away.

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Post Up: Kyrie Goes off in Dallas

Photos via Getty Images

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Stephenson spits auto-tuned bars over a catchy beat. Download “Better Believe It” on iTunes.

RELATED:
Lance Stephenson Explains How To Stop LeBron: ‘You Gotta Tame Him’

The post Lance Stephenson Drops Rap Single ‘Better Believe It’ appeared first on SLAM.

With the Pacers down 2-0 in the first round, the team is trying to find a way to slow down LeBron, who put up 32 points, 13 assists, 6 boards and 3 steals in Game One and 25 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals and 4 blocks in Game Two. Lance thinks the key to beating the Cavs is getting the ball out of LeBron’s hands and forcing his teammates to make plays.

From USA TODAY:

“You just gotta tame him,” Stephenson said. “He’s playing so well right now. His jump shot has really improved. Just gotta get into him, make him pass the ball. Make his teammates make decisions.”

Following Monday night’s loss, Paul George said that Lance has to “learn to control himself.” Lance, however, credits the Pacers for letting him be himself:

“Just letting me play, letting me play without thinking,” Stephenson said of why the Pacers are a good fit. “Think a lot of teams had me playing, just thinking too much. I got here, just be yourself. Let me play through mistakes. Don’t sub me for every little mistake. They’re just letting me be myself.”

Game Three of the Pacers-Cavs series is set to tip-off tonight.

Related
Lance Stephenson On Returning To Pacers: ‘It’s Gonna Be Like Michael Jordan Coming Back’

The post Lance Stephenson Explains How To Stop LeBron: ‘You Gotta Tame Him’ appeared first on SLAM.

The All-Star forward said Lance has “got to learn to control himself” and improve his body language.

Pacers' Paul George after Game 2 loss to Cavs: "[Lance Stephenson] has to learn to control himself… His body language has to improve." pic.twitter.com/vf301J85ZI

— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) April 18, 2017

The Cleveland Cavaliers took a commanding 2-0 series lead against the Indiana Pacers with a 117-111 win.

Per the Indy Star:

“We’re just not taking the fight to them right now,” Paul George said. “We’re not doing anything aggressively right now.”

 

The Cavaliers overpowered the Pacers in the second half once (Kevin) Love and (Kyrie) Irving started scoring at will. Love (27 points, 11 rebounds) punished Lance Stephenson by scoring on him in the post or drawing fouls and converting at the free-throw line. Love missed only one of his seven attempts and made all 12 of his free throws.

 

“That was my mistake,” Stephenson said of guarding Love. “I was supposed to front him and get help side and on the weak side behind me. I didn’t do it. It was my fault.”

 

Irving then took his turn torching Stephenson with hard crossovers and step-back 3-pointers. After Irving made his final shot of the quarter, he turned around to trash talk to Stephenson.

Related
Paul George: ‘I’ve Got To Get The Last Shot’

The post Paul George: Lance Stephenson Must ‘Learn to Control Himself’ appeared first on SLAM.

The bucket did not sit well with Toronto players, who blasted Stephenson after the game for violating one of the League’s unwritten rules.

https://youtu.be/MMto0KgF_Xo

Well, Lance came back with receipts.

At the end of last season, Toronto’s Norman Powell threw down a windmill dunk with 1.2 seconds remaining in a 122-95 win over the last-place Philadelphia 76ers.

On Instagram, Lance posted video of Powell’s dunk and added this message:

“They got mad at me for what I did but look at this. All I did was jelly. When Lance Stephenson do it’s a big deal.”

Did Lance just expose the Raptors for pulling the same late-game stunt?

RELATED:
P.J. Tucker: Lance Stephenson ‘Has No Class’

The post Lance Stephenson Responds To Angry Raptors Players appeared first on SLAM.

Stephenson appeared to rub salt in the visitors’ wounds with a late-game layup, which predictably led to yelling and shoving.

The Raptors weren’t happy with Lance after his last-second layup. (via @BleacherReport) pic.twitter.com/48kTg4xmri

— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) April 5, 2017

P.J. Tucker accused Born Ready of being “classless.”

Per the Indy Star:

Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan and P.J. Tucker were offended by what they felt was an unnecessary layup by Stephenson, the Pacers’ fiery guard. After Stephenson made his meaningless basket with 3 seconds left, DeRozan and Tucker confronted him, causing a scuffle at midcourt.

 

“Tasteless, classless,” Tucker said Stephenson’s actions. “There’s nowhere in the league for that. They have a lot of respectable guys. (Paul George), Al (Jefferson) and Monta (Ellis). There’s a way to win and there’s a way to lose in this league. That ain’t the way to win. That ain’t the way you finish games. I think those guys know that. That dude, he has no class. He has no taste.”

 

“I’ll take fault in passing it to him because I knew he was going to lay it up,” George said of Stephenson. “It’s kind of a basketball cardinal rule. You just hold onto the ball.”

Born Ready was apologetic after the game, telling reporters that he, “didn’t mean no harm:”

Related
Lance Stephenson on Returning to Indiana: ‘It’s Gonna Be Like Michael Jordan Coming Back’

The post P.J. Tucker: Lance Stephenson ‘Has No Class’ appeared first on SLAM.

Lance (via @Grady) pic.twitter.com/8AGtybcy6v

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) April 1, 2017

Video courtesy of Michael Grady

The post Lance Stephenson on Returning to Indiana: ‘It’s Gonna Be Like Michael Jordan Coming Back’ appeared first on SLAM.

According to reports from ESPN and The Vertical, Born Ready has signed a 3-year, $12 million deal with the team and will be eligible for the playoffs:

Indiana Pacers, Lance Stephenson agree to 3-year, $12 million deal, league sources tell ESPN. First two guaranteed. Team option on third.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) March 29, 2017

The Pacers are working on a deal to bring back Lance Stephenson, league sources tell @TheVertical.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 29, 2017

Stephenson has played for the Pelicans and Timberwolves this season, but both stints ended with injuries. The Pacers are currently No. 7 in the East and if the standings remain the same through the rest of the season, they will face the Cavaliers in the first round.

Related
WATCH: The Ultimate NBA Player Mixtape

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Stephenson was on the court for just 2:05 minutes before coming down with a nasty leg injury.

Not again, Lance. pic.twitter.com/2ZHIJMDoAT

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 16, 2017

Lance has had nothing but bad luck with injuries this season. He was averaging 9.7 points and 4.8 assists with New Orleans before injuring his groin in early November.

After coming back from surgery, Lance sustained a Grade 2 ankle sprain in February with the Wolves on his first 10-day contract.

The Wolves signed him to another 10-day in March, but he managed to play only 18 minutes during that span.

RELATED:
Matt Barnes Blasts the Pelicans for Cutting Lance Stephenson

The post WATCH: Lance Stephenson Injures Left Leg vs Celtics appeared first on SLAM.

More from The Vertical:

Free-agent guard Lance Stephenson plans to sign a 10-day contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, league sources told The Vertical.

 

Stephenson is expected to provide depth and playmaking to a Timberwolves backcourt that lost guard Zach LaVine for the remainder of the season because of a torn ACL.

Stephenson joined Mario Chalmers and Kirk Hinrich for a workout with the Cavs and as fellow Coney Island native and Lincoln alum Jamel Thomas told us on the Respect the Game Podcast, Lance is healthy and ready to get back to the court.

Related
LeBron James Would Be Fine Playing With Lance Stephenson

The post Report: Timberwolves Sign Lance Stephenson To 10-Day Contract appeared first on SLAM.

The Cavs are holding workouts with Stephenson, Mario Chalmers, Kirk Hinrich and Jordan Farmar in their desperate search for a playmaker.

New story: LeBron James on the Cavs potentially adding Lance Stephenson — "I got no personal problems with nobody" https://t.co/37W4iG8vuN

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 1, 2017

James says he holds no ill will towards Born Ready.

Per ESPN:

“I got a history with all those guys except Jordan,” James said after shootaround Wednesday, as the Cavs prepared for their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. “I got a history with Lance too, obviously. I got a history versus Kirk. I played him in a lot of playoff series. And I got a history with Rio [Chalmers]. … At the end of the day, Rio is recovering from his Achilles tear. I hope he’s been doing everything he needs to do just to get back on the floor. He loves to play the game.

 

“I’m a supporter of what this franchise wants to do, no matter what it’s doing. But my focus right now is to get our guys playing championship-level basketball.”

 

Would James have a problem teaming up with his former foe? […] “I just want to win, man,” James said. “That’s all that matters to me. I got no personal problems with nobody.”

The post LeBron James Would Be Fine Playing With Lance Stephenson appeared first on SLAM.

LeBron has been open about his desire for the Cavs to add a playmaker to the fold and one of the three aforementioned players could theoretically act as ballhandlers on the Cavs second unit. Chalmers, who played with LeBron in Miami, tore his Achilles last March and has not played since. Hinrich, who is 36 years old, has not suited up for a team this season after playing for the Hawks and Bulls last year. Stephenson was on the Pelicans roster earlier this season, but underwent surgery on his groin in November and was later waived by New Orleans.

Stephenson and James have a history with one another as Lance antagonized James during the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals, where Stephenson famously blew in LeBron’s ear:

The Cavs also reportedly reached out to the Sixers about a potential trade for point guard TJ McConnell, which Philly shot down.

Related
Report: LeBron James at Odds With Cavs Management Over Spending

The post Report: Cavaliers To Hold Work Out For Mario Chalmers, Kirk Hinrich and Lance Stephenson appeared first on SLAM.

NBA players have been rapping and producing music for well over two decades, and while this compilation includes just a fraction of players who have done it, we’re proud to say it’s a proper presentation of the most notable NBA rappers out there—at least those that have gone to the point of creating visuals to accompany their tracks.

So with a nod to SLAM’s first-ever Music Issue, we present the ultimate mixtape of NBA rappers, which features a handful of NBA stars (Kobe, Shaq, Rasheed, Webber, Parker, Lillard) and role players (Stephen Jackson, Lou Williams, Iman Shumpert) spitting their own bars in music videos.

More information on SLAM 205: The Music Issue.

Video by Meir21. Follow him on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

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Stephenson requires groin surgery, which is expected to sideline him for six-to-10 weeks, and Barnes says it’s unfair that he’s being waived while injured.

New Orleans is bringing Archie Goodwin onboard to replace Born Ready.

The post Matt Barnes Blasts the Pelicans for Cutting Lance Stephenson appeared first on SLAM.

The Pelicans, sources say, will participate fully in Lance Stephenson's injury rehab and told him they're open to re-signing him once healed

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 7, 2016

New Orleans didn't want to waive Lance, sources said, but saw no alternative with 11 healthy players and no sure path to an injury exception

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 7, 2016

Since Jrue Holiday is away from the team for personal reasons, not outright injury, New Orleans' case for a hardship waiver is not automatic

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 7, 2016

The Pelicans, I'm told, have told Lance Stephenson they will participate in his injury rehab in New Orleans or wherever he wishes to do it.

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 7, 2016

Original Story: Lance Stephenson will undergo surgery on his injured groin and the Pelicans have responded by letting go of Stephenson and signing free agent guard Archie Goodwin, according to a report from ESPN.

https://twitter.com/A1Laflare10/status/795446178561347584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Stephenson signed a one-year, incentive based deal with New Orleans and had been averaging 9.7 points, 4.8 assists and 3.3 boards in 27 minutes for the 0-6 Pels. Goodwin, who is still just 22-years-old, was cut by the Suns in the preseason.

Related
Anthony Davis ‘Frustrated’ With Pelicans’ 0-4 Start

The post Report: New Orleans Pelicans Sign Archie Goodwin, Cut Lance Stephenson appeared first on SLAM.

The Pelicans need help at guard now that Jrue Holiday will miss an indefinite amount of time to care for his wife, Rachel, who will undergo brain surgery following the birth of their child this fall. The Pelicans will be the fifth team Stephenson will join since 2011. He has career averages of 8.8. points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.

The Vertical‘s Shams Charania had it first.

Free agent Lance Stephenson has agreed to a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, league source tells The Vertical.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 9, 2016

The post Report: Lance Stephenson Signs One-Year Deal With Pelicans appeared first on SLAM.

Lance Stephenson is considering a few teams. The #Pacers, who are are 1 of them, have shown interest in a reunion.

— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) July 4, 2016

The Grizzlies traded for Stephenson back in February.

Lance averaged 8.3 points and 3.2 rebounds through 69 games last season.

Per the Indy Star:

“That’s home for him,” the source said of what Indianapolis means to Stephenson. “He absolutely loves the town and the organization.”

 

The Pacers have around $10 million left in their salary cap after agreeing to terms with Al Jefferson and could use most of that money to sign Stephenson. Since he left Indiana two seasons ago, Stephenson has continued to have strong relationships with Paul George and (Larry) Bird, the Pacers’ president.

 

He was a massive disappointment last season with the Clippers, averaging just 4.7 points and 2.5 rebounds in 43 games before being traded. He was more successful with the Grizzlies as they gave him more minutes. In 26 games in Memphis, Stephenson averaged 14.2 points and 4.4 rebounds. […] “He played great for Memphis,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers told ESPN.com in May. “He wasn’t a great fit for us. Defensively, that’s where I was more disappointed, and shocked. I look at that body, and that athleticism, and I think: That’s a prototypical great defender. And he’s not that.”

Keep up with the latest signings during the July free-agency period by following our 2016 NBA Free Agent Tracker.

The post Pacers Reportedly Considering Bringing Back Lance Stephenson appeared first on SLAM.

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The Grizzlies won the game, 113-102 behind Zach Randolph’s triple-double. Lance added 12 points of his own, the most hilarious of which came from the free throw line in the video you can see above. You can clearly hear Jordan say, among other things, “You hit a couple layups and then start talking shit. Shut yo ass up.”

The post DeAndre Jordan Told Lance Stephenson ‘Shut Yo Ass Up’ During Free Throw (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

OKC received excellent showings from Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, but would be stunned at the end of regulation by a dagger three-ball from Ricky Rubio.

Ricky Rubio closing the show in OKC:https://t.co/UuchLOKHhs

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 12, 2016

T’Wolves head coach Sam Mitchell was thrilled at his team’s effort in a tough road match-up.

“Think about it, these guys are averaging 110 points a game and we held them to 14 points below their average,” Mitchell said. “For these guys to step up and take the challenge on the road, and this is a tough building to play in, it was just a great win for us.”

Pelicans 114 (24-40), Grizzlies 121 (39-26)

Anthony Davis (25 points), and Jrue Holiday (34 points) gave Memphis all they could handle, but ultimately succumbed to the Grizzlies in an entertaining overtime duel. Jeff Green posted a double-double, but the heroes for coach Dave Joerger’s team were Lance Stephenson and Matt Barnes. Stephenson went off for a career-high 33 points, while Barnes dropped a triple-double on New Orleans.

Magic 107 (28-36), Kings 100 (25-39)

Slam Dunk Contest runner-up Aaron Gordon provided a double-double with 20 points and 11 boards, handing Sacramento their fourth consecutive loss. DeMarcus Cousins was notably absent from action in the defeat, as he served a one-game suspension handed down by the team’s front office. If Boogie’s Instagram posts are of any indication, the suspension didn’t resonate with the two-time All-Star.

DeMarcus Cousins was suspended today. He was also guilty of triple posting on Instagram. https://t.co/pqXmXrDlgh pic.twitter.com/4st6w8AGrG

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 11, 2016

Pistons 103 (33-32), Hornets 118 (36-28)

The Hornets cruised to their sixth straight victory thanks to 22 points from Marvin Williams and a double-double from Nicolas Batum. Charlotte now claims sole possession of fifth place in the Eastern Conference, while the Pistons cling onto eighth place.

Nets 89 (18-47), 76ers 95 (9-56)

The 76ers endured a scary moment in this contest, as a collision between Robert Covington and Jerami Grant forced each player out of the game. With Jahlil Okafor out for the year, Philly’s depth chart will be thin for their match-up with Detroit tomorrow night. Speaking of which…

Happy Birthday to the one and only Old School Chevy, Elton Brand! pic.twitter.com/HQogAmqLpU

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 11, 2016

Rockets 102 (33-32), Celtics 98 (39-27)

Despite getting caught flat-footed on a slick Isaiah Thomas move in the first quarter, James Harden would score 32 points, leading Houston to their third straight victory. Another noteworthy performance came from Michael Beasley, who posted his best stat line since returning from International ball.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1W1C-ov3U4&ab_channel=DownToBuck

Heat 118 (38-27), Bulls 96 (32-32)

Having dropped six of their last eight, the Bulls are having a difficult enough time as is…with Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose each sidelined with injuries, it’s virtually impossible for this team to contend. Goran Dragic led the way with 26 points, while Hassan Whiteside came off the bench to grab 16 boards. With hopes of returning this season, Chris Bosh delivered words of encouragement to his team.

Way to bounce back fellas! My youngin @J_Rich1 is ballin!!!!! #HeatNation

— Chris Bosh (@chrisbosh) March 12, 2016

Trail Blazers 112 (34-32), Warriors 128 (58-6)

The Trail Blazers and Warriors engaged in an unprecedented three-point shootout, making at least 18 treys each for the first time in league history. The Splash Bros were the usual culprits for Golden State, as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 15 of the Warriors’ 18 long-balls. Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers distributed the workload, as Al-Farouq Aminu, Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum, Meyers Leonard, Gerald Henderson, and Brian Roberts all hit multiple shots from beyond the arc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uvw-Sw5VxAQ&ab_channel=Aqupas%E2%84%A2

Wizards 93 (30-34), Jazz 114 (30-35)

Shelvin Mack stole the show with a career-high 27 points, shooting 11-of-17 from the floor while notching four steals. The Wizards received 24 points from John Wall but little help elsewhere, leading to Washington’s fourth-straight loss.

It was a new career-high of 27 points for @ShelvinMack!

Watch:https://t.co/gEYj16eGxU

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 12, 2016

Knicks 94 (27-29), Clippers 101 (41-22)

Kristaps Porzingis, Carmelo Anthony, and Robin Lopez scored 20-plus points each; unfortunately, only one other player scored in double-digits, allowing the Clippers to eke out a victory. Despite a lukewarm start as New York’s interim coach, Phil Jackson told reporters today he’d like Kurt Rambis to return next season.

“He has a way of handling players. He’s relaxed, yet he has the ability to keep them focused on the important parts of it. He’s a defensive-oriented guy. I had him as my defensive coordinator for my teams in 2007, ’08 and ’09. And I think he has a real good handle on that part.”

The post Post Up: Ice Cold appeared first on SLAM.

Green should help fill-in for Blake Griffin, who’s missing time due to injury. Memphis gets a look at Stephenson, who has a team option of $9.4 million next season.

ESPN sources say Clippers and Grizzlies managed to get trade in before 3 PM: Lance Stephenson and a future first-round pick for Jeff Green

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 18, 2016

Believe this is a heavily-protected 2019 first-rounder. Grizz have been trying to move Green for a while. https://t.co/sUkQLBnZbB

— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) February 18, 2016

The post Clippers Trade Lance Stephenson To Memphis For Jeff Green appeared first on SLAM.

Via Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter:

The Los Angeles Clippers are nearing agreement on a deal to acquire Orlando's Channing Frye, league sources tell @TheVertical.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 17, 2016

Clippers would Lance Stephenson in a deal with Magic, but league sources say Clippers probing another deal elsewhere with Stephenson too.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 17, 2016

Clippers could turn back to Orlando and complete Frye deal that would include Stephenson, CJ Wilcox and possibly a future 2nd rounder.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 17, 2016

Sources: For tonight, Clippers holding back on finalizing Frye deal with Orlando. Clippers plans to give Orlando final word on Wednesday.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 17, 2016

Sources: Clippers are working on a bigger deal using Stephenson's contract, but that is a longshot. Most likely scenario still Orlando deal.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 17, 2016

Sources: If Frye deal to Clippers goes through on Wednesday, Stephenson would never play a game for Orlando. Magic will waive him.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 17, 2016

The post Report: Clippers Close to Acquiring Channing Frye in Deal Involving Lance Stephenson appeared first on SLAM.

The post WATCH: Lance Stephenson Throws Lob to DeAndre Jordan appeared first on SLAM.

DeAndre Jordan also added to the Lakers’ misery with a monster finish of his own.

The post WATCH: Lance Stephenson Posterizes Julius Randle appeared first on SLAM.

The post DeAndre Jordan Catches Huge Alley-Oop From Lance Stephenson (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

The post Lance Stephenson’s No-Look Pass Leads to DeAndre Jordan Dunk (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

Crawford watched the organization fall over itself trying to lure back DeAndre Jordan without his help, and raised an eyebrow at the signings of Lance Stephenson, Josh Smith, Austin Rivers and Paul Pierce.

Crawford remains unsure what his role will be on the Clippers’ second unit, but he says that he’s fully onboard with Doc Rivers‘ grand experiment.

Per the OC Register:

If Doc Rivers had it his way, he would leave his players alone in the summer. […] “Let them vent, be happy, unhappy whatever,” the Clippers coach said. “When they get back, they’ll see what we’re trying to do, and they’ll either like it or not.”

 

The two men eventually spoke over the summer, and had another conversation shortly before the opening of training camp, an important conversation that solidified things between the two. […] Crawford saw the vision. He saw his place on the team. And, he bought in.

 

“I just didn’t know how it was going to fit,” Crawford acknowledges. “You basically have five people in the second unit who can all handle the ball and make plays. There’s only one basketball. How’s this going to work?” […] “I’m so far in,” Crawford said. “No matter what it is – touches, minutes – everyone’s going to have to sacrifice something to go where we want to go. And I know that, whole-heartedly.”

Related
Doc Rivers Says Clippers Aren’t Trading Jamal Crawford

The post Jamal Crawford Was Unhappy With the Clippers in Offseason appeared first on SLAM.

His stat line wasn’t exactly stellar (8.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.1 turnovers per game), and he wasn’t getting the touches he wanted. Stephenson certainly believes he wasn’t treated like a star at all.

More from The Score:

“I don’t feel that,” Stephenson told the OC County Register’s Dan Woike of Cho’s starry comments. “I was just sitting in the corner. That’s not trying to be a star. A star normally gets the ball.”

 

Stephenson has a point about not receiving the amount of touches a star player normally commands. Stephenson averaged the fifth most touches per game on the Hornets last year, behind decidedly average players in Marvin Williams and Cody Zeller, per NBA Stats.

 

When he had the ball, however, Stephenson would often refuse to pass. He averaged the most time of possession for a non-point guard, while putting up a career high in usage rate.

 

Stephenson blames that on the Hornets for misusing his skillset.

 

“I think the way they wanted me to be a star isn’t the way my game is,” Stephenson said.

Related
Steve Clifford Benched Lance Stephenson and Said ‘He’s Not a Star’

The post Lance Stephenson on His Time in Charlotte: ‘A Star Normally Gets the Ball’ appeared first on SLAM.

Head coach Doc Rivers has yet to make a firm decision on who starts at small forward, but it sounds like he’d “prefer” to keep Stephenson in a bench role, to ignite the second unit.

From Dan Woike of the Orange County Register:

Doc Rivers again said that Paul Pierce, Wes Johnson or Lance Stephenson could start at SF, but he'd "prefer" to keep Lance with bench group

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) September 26, 2015

The post Doc Rivers Says He’d ‘Prefer’ Lance Stephenson Come Off the Bench for Clippers appeared first on SLAM.

Who else in the League has a mixtape of Top 10 career plays that’s as diverse and more importantly, as much fun to watch?

Fresh off being traded to the Clippers, dropping a brand new rap single and making an epic surprise appearance at an NYC streetball game, we take a look at the top 10 plays in his NBA career, thanks to the work of one genius YouTube user.

We have a few gripes with the countdown, like the omission of this vicious crossover on Anthony Tolliver last season, but damn if those 10 plays aren’t dope, too.

The post Top 10 Plays of Lance Stephenson’s Career (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

According to Lance, via Instagram, and others in attendance, Born Ready was taking in the action from the sidelines when someone from UTL called him out. So Lance suited up and promptly scored 25 points in 12 minutes (at least one witness claims it was 26 points, actually) and led Gersh to the victory.

Congrats to Team Gersh on their win, even though they needed Lance Stevenson to beat us…

— UNDER THE LIGHTS (@UTLBasketball) August 2, 2015

“Dude called me out while I was watching the game so I won the game for the home team 25 points in 12min,” Stephenson said on Instagram. Here’s the video of his first touch of the game, from Lance’s IG:

Here’s the only other additional footage we could find from the game:

Never, ever change, Lance.

The post Lance Stephenson Scores 25 Points in 12 Minutes at Gersh Park (VIDEO) appeared first on SLAM.

Listen to the freestyle below.

What y’all think?

The post Lance Stephenson Drops New Track on his Arrival to LA appeared first on SLAM.

The Hornets shipped Stephenson out after just one season, and Lance admits that he’s bummed out by the fact that team owner Michael Jordan gave up on him so quickly.

The 24-year-old put up some historically awful numbers and quickly wore out his welcome in Charlotte.

Per Bleacher Report:

A little more than a year ago, Lance Stephenson and his agent, Alberto Ebanks, flew to Las Vegas to meet with Hornets owner Michael Jordan and some of the team’s brass. On July 15, Stephenson became a Hornet. […] This summer, Stephenson, 24, was back in Vegas, representing a new team, the Clippers, and training five days a week at the Impact Basketball gym. His main goal over the past two months has been to become more of an actual shooting guard, to prepare for his bigger off-the-ball role in Los Angeles.

 

Was Michael Jordan helpful to you on and off the court? […] LS: “He was communicating with me, telling me to keep a positive head even though I had a rough year. This was one of the roughest seasons—injuries, not getting my spot back. I felt like I could help this squad, but it just didn’t go the way I planned it to go. It’s a good learning experience and it really humbled me because when you have high expectations, you feel like you’re that guy. It made me feel like, ‘Hey, you’ve got to keep working. Never stop grinding. Don’t take this stuff for granted because playing basketball is a blessing and you’re getting paid for it.'”

 

Does it hurt at all that MJ traded you only after one season? […] LS: “Yeah, definitely it hurt me. I felt like I could’ve done more for the organization, I felt like we had pieces, and we just couldn’t get over that hump. There were a lot of injuries, a lot of things that just held us back from having a successful season.”

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“Doc Rivers, you had one job!” – J.J. Redick, probably.

According to the LA Clippers’ sharpshooter, Rivers and the rest of the front-office failed miserably this summer, as they helplessly watched coveted free agent center DeAndre Jordan bolt to the rival Dallas Mavericks.

But it wasn’t all bad news for the Clips—they did manage to trade for Lance Stephenson, inked Paul Pierce to a three-year deal, unveiled wildly unpopular new uniforms … and, well, nevermind:

The Los Angeles Clippers had one big priority to deal with this offseason, and they dropped the ball.

 

That means their offseason has been a giant failure, at least according to Clippers guard J.J. Redick.

 

Losing Jordan will undoubtedly be a big blow for Lob City, and Redick isn’t downplaying the loss. While on Bleacher Report Radio on Tuesday, Redick told Nicole Zaloumis that he would give the Clippers’ offseason an “F.”

The post J.J. Redick Grades the LA Clippers’ Offseason: ‘F’ appeared first on SLAM.

Stephenson is trying to shed his reputation as a negative locker room presence, and says he’s on board with Rivers’ plan to bring him off the bench.

The Clippers’ president and head coach wants Lance to play with the same reckless abandon he did with the Indiana Pacers.

Per the OC Register:

When Lance Stephenson received the phone call that alerted him he had been traded to the Clippers two months after the conclusion of his worst professional season, the maligned swingman released a celebratory cry. […] “I just started yelling,” Stephenson said, “like, ‘Yeah! I’m happy!’”

 

His productivity plummeted (in Charlotte), and he was frequently described as a problem in the Hornets’ locker room, a reputation he burnished in Indiana, as well. But Stephenson expressed a deep desire to cleanse his image. […] “I want to take that title off of my name,” he said, “because that’s not me. I’m a good locker room guy.”

 

“Whatever it takes to win,” he said. “If I have to come off the bench, if I have to start. I’m here to do whatever it takes to win, and I trust (Rivers’) decisions. So I’m just happy to be here.” […] The Clippers traded Spencer Hawes and Matt Barnes to acquire Stephenson on Tuesday. And while Barnes’ shooting was often highlighted as one of the Clippers’ biggest holes, and Hawes was a dud in his one season with the Clippers, Rivers’ acknowledged trading for Stephenson comes with an amount of risk.

The post Lance Stephenson: ‘I’m a Good Locker Room Guy’ appeared first on SLAM.

Rivers says that Stephenson can play multiple positions, and envisions him as a “utility player.”

The Paul Pierce rumors persist for the Clips, and Jamal Crawford is reportedly also on the block this summer.

Per LA sports radio station The Beast 980 (via ESPN):

“I like that [Stephenson] can play multiple positions — really 2, 3 and 1 — because he’s a terrific passer,” Rivers said. “I don’t know if I made the trade for him to be a starter, per se, I look at him really more to be a utility player that can come in and play literally three different positions for us. When you look at us, we needed toughness and more athleticism and we get that.”

 

But if Stephenson isn’t going to be a starter, who’s going to be the team’s starting small forward for 2015-16? […] “We find him, we work, we still have work to do,” Rivers said. “In the worst case and it’s not a bad case [Lance starts], and I still think that Lance is an upgrade at that position even if we wanted to start him. But I’m planning on doing more things this summer without saying much. We’re not done, clearly. […] I still think that Lance is an upgrade at that position even if we wanted to start him. But I’m planning on doing more things this summer without saying much. We’re not done, clearly.”

 

One of the options the Clippers are exploring, according to sources, is Paul Pierce, who could sign a mini-midlevel exception of $3.37 million for up to three years if he declines his $5.5 million player option with Washington. Players don’t normally turn down money but it’s essentially a $1 million difference this season for Pierce, 37, to return home and be reunited with Rivers, who was his coach in Boston for nine seasons, including the 2007-08 championship. […] The Clippers are also exploring trade options for Jamal Crawford, according to sources, and one possibility is trading Crawford and C.J. Wilcox, the team’s 2014 first round pick, to the Denver Nuggets for Wilson Chandler. The Clippers inquired about Chandler last season but nothing materialized.

The post Lance Stephenson to Come Off the Bench for the Clippers appeared first on SLAM.

Thank you to buzz city and the Hornets organization. While the past year didn't work …. http://t.co/edgMso2SuT pic.twitter.com/MmXZiOTAEk

— Lance Stephenson (@StephensonLance) June 16, 2015

Born Ready is disappointed that his one-year stint in Charlotte was a bust, but says he enjoyed his time in the city.

Stephenson is excited to chase an NBA Championship in Los Angeles.

Per Lance’s Instagram:

Thank you to buzz city and the Hornets organization. While the past year didn’t work out as I hoped it would, I really enjoyed my time in the city of Charlotte. I will thoroughly miss the Hornets fans and my teammates who were very supportive of me over the last year.

 

I wish the Hornets success going forward and I’m looking forward to doing whatever I can to help bring a championship to Los Angeles and Clipper Nation.

The post Lance Stephenson Thanks Charlotte After Trade to the Clippers appeared first on SLAM.

Press Release: Clippers Acquire Lance Stephenson from Hornets → http://t.co/OGIMWO4nMr pic.twitter.com/xW1OtliRJ4

— Los Angeles Clippers (@LAClippers) June 16, 2015

——

According to multiple reports, the LA Clippers and Charlotte Hornets are finalizing a trade involving Lance Stephenson, Spencer Hawes and Matt Barnes.

Stephenson, 24, had worn out his welcome in Charlotte after one disastrous season and he’ll now join Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and Doc Rivers in Los Angeles.

The Hornets are expected to part ways with Barnes.

Per Yahoo! Sports:

Stephenson has two years left on his contract, but the 2016-17 season is a team option of $9.4 million. So, the Clippers would only be committed to paying him the $9 million owed this season – and could then let him go if things don’t work out. For Clippers president and coach Doc Rivers, he’d be counting on Stephenson to recapture the production of his four seasons in Indiana, where he developed into an important player on a two-time Eastern Conference finalist.

 

The Clippers are considering the idea of using Stephenson as the primary ballhandler when All-Star Chris Paul is out of the game, league sources said. Stephenson struggled with the way Charlotte point guard Kemba Walker dominated the ball on offense, and would assuredly find a similar situation with Paul in Los Angeles.

 

Hawes has three years and $17 million-plus left on a free-agent deal that he signed in summer 2014. He struggled for the Clippers and was unable to consistently crack the rotation. The Hornets are desperate for perimeter shooting, and he would give them a stretch-4 man with good 3-point range and passing skills. Barnes has one year at $3.4 million left on his deal, and would bring Charlotte wing defense and toughness.

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Charlotte Hornets swingman Lance Stephenson set the NBA all-time mark this season for the lowest percentage on three-point attempts, connecting on just 18 of 105 launches from beyond the arc in 61 games.

Lance Stephenson (17%) is on pace to set an @NBA mark for lowest 3-pt pct in one season (min.: 100 shots). #Hornets #Raptors 7 pm on @ESPN

— Elias Sports Bureau (@EliasSports) April 15, 2015

Lance Stephenson? Lowest 3-point percentage EVER with at least 100 attempts at .171. Previous low: Micheal Ray Richardson (.188) in 1981-82

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) April 15, 2015

“Born Ready” says he will work on regaining his confidence over the summer, this after enduring the most difficult season of his five-year career.

Per the Charlotte Observer:

“When I was going through it, yes, it hurt my confidence,” Stephenson said. “I feel like this will be a big summer for me to come in prepared.”

 

Stephenson shot 38 percent from the field and 17 percent from 3-point range. Stephenson brought it up Thursday that 17 percent was the worst season in NBA history for a player attempting at least 100 3-pointers.

 

“My 3-point percentage was the lowest ever in history. That’s terrible,” Stephenson said. “I have to come in and figure out how to be a better shooter. Being a good shooter will help my overall game. When people sag off of me (playing him to drive), it’s harder for me to be successful. […] It’s confidence – just wanting the shot to go in so bad and then you lose your confidence. That plays a major part when you don’t have confidence in your shot. This summer I’m going to find my confidence.”

The post Lance Stephenson Shot an All-Time Low 17% on Threes: ‘That’s Terrible’ appeared first on SLAM.

Stephenson’s game has struggled, and he was stamped with the dreaded “DNP-CD” tag in the team’s most critical game of the year—a 116-104 loss Monday night to the visiting Boston Celtics.

Lance says he has no regrets about joining the Hornets, and promises to remain patient throughout the entire frustrating process.

Per the AP:

Stephenson is shooting just 37.7 percent from the field and has made only 16 percent of his 3-point attempts. Things have gone so downhill that he didn’t even play in Charlotte’s biggest game so far this season — a 116-104 loss Monday night to the Boston Celtics — despite two starters being out with injuries.

 

The loss dropped the Hornets 1 ½ games behind the Celtics in the battle for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference entering Tuesday night. […] Stephenson lost his starting job early in the season and had been playing with the second rotation until this week.

 

Stephenson said he still believes he can turn things around in Charlotte, but said he just needs “that freedom to let me play through mistakes.” […] Still, he doesn’t regret signing with Charlotte. “Not at all,” Stephenson said. “I love this system. I love my coaches. I love my teammates. Some people come into systems and fit right in. Some people it takes time. I feel like with me I’m going to take time.”

The post Lance Stephenson Doesn’t Regret Signing With Hornets: ‘Not at All’ appeared first on SLAM.

In this his first, difficult season in Charlotte, it was Stephenson’s first “DNP-CD”.

Stephenson’s playing time was split between the underwhelming trio of Jeffery Taylor, P.J. Hairston and Brian Roberts.

Per the Charlotte Observer:

Was the DNP-CD a good decision by Clifford? […] Well, given that the Hornets couldn’t guard anybody all night and lost handily at home to one of the teams they are battling with for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot, I’d have to say it was not. The combined efforts of Taylor, Hairston and Roberts could be described in one word: unimpressive.

 

But would Stephenson have made a significant difference? I doubt it. These Hornets (31-42) are so far afield now that, with nine games left, the completion of this lost season is only two weeks away. No way they make the playoffs.

 

This is how Clifford explained the decision to bench Stephenson on Monday: “I’m just obviously searching without Mike (Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who is out with an injury). … I explained to (Stephenson) that I’m not saying it’s his fault at all. But we have struggled to find a group that has played well off the bench in these last few games. Jeff (Taylor) has to play with Mike out. We need a defender and an energy guy out there and he’s the best guy, the guy most like Mike. And we need shooting. … Lance was disappointed and wants to play. I give him credit. He said, ‘I know I can help the team,’ and he handled it well.” […] When I asked Stephenson after the game if the decision had upset him, he replied: “Of course. I feel like I could have helped our team. I feel like I could have helped tonight. But it’s not in my hands. I just come out every day and try to get ready for each game and stay in shape.”

The post Lance Stephenson Benched in Loss to Celtics appeared first on SLAM.

(Best part of the move was the celebratory shimmy shake Lance unleashed.)

Yep…i dont hide when i get crossed or dunked on. It happens. Lol RT @c_mullan12 @warriorsworld @ATolliver44 he real for responding lol

— Anthony Tolliver (@ATolliver44) March 9, 2015

Stephenson and the visiting Charlotte Hornets stormed back to take their fifth straight W, a 108-101 road victory against the Detroit Pistons.

Per the Charlotte Observer:

(Hornets coach Steve) Clifford has a mantra: “Defense, rebounding, low-turnover.” It is the formula his team must follow to win. So this game became the great outlier. They gave up basket after basket in the lane and were outrebounded 42-39. (They committed one fewer turnover – 10 to Detroit’s 11.)

 

So then how did they pull this one off? Center Al Jefferson regained his exceptional scoring touch from late last season and small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was switched to guarding Pistons point guard Reggie Jackson in the second half. […] Jefferson finished the game with 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field. Kidd-Gilchrist held Jackson to four points on 2-of-9 shooting in the second half after Jackson had run up 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting before halftime.

 

What Kidd-Gilchrist contributed in the second half is illustrative of the compromise the Hornets make to get point guard Mo Williams’ scoring. Williams was again terrific offensively (21 points, nine assists and two clutch free throws in the final minute), but he’s limited defensively. […] “When Mo first got traded here I told him, ‘Man, you are going to love MKG,’” Jefferson said post-game. “That’s what makes him so special – that he can guard so many different guys and he rebounds very well. He’s the captain of our defense. You can always tell when he’s not playing that it makes a big difference.”

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Lance Stephenson is from Brooklyn. And if his “Born Ready” nickname is a bit of an exaggeration, it’s not much of one. Then again, that name implies a bit of passivity that’s never, ever been in Stephenson’s game. After Lincoln HS, he left Cincinnati after one year, was a Pacers second-round pick and played spot minutes off the bench his first two seasons. His third, he started 72 games.

Last year was his true breakout, and afterward he broke out, signing a three-year, $27 million deal with Charlotte. As it turned out, what with Paul George’s season-ending-before-it-began injury, not a bad move. He joined the reborn Hornets to provide not only more toughness but a bit of that Brooklyn attitude. Case in point: third quarter of the home opener. Long rebound to Al Jefferson, who hands it to Lance at the top of the key. Before Larry Sanders and all-arms Giannis Antetokounmpo could even get set in the paint, there he is, dunking on everyone and bringing the entire crowd—a certain team owner among them—to their feet.

Born Ready? Maybe not quite. But he’s sure as hell ready now. For anything.

The post Slamadamonth, SLAM #184: Lance Stephenson appeared first on SLAM.

The Charlotte Hornets and Brooklyn Nets have restarted trade discussions, this time focused on guard Joe Johnson, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

 

The Hornets and Nets are discussing a larger package that would likely include guards Lance Stephenson and Gerald Henderson and forward Marvin Williams, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

The deal makes sense for both teams. The Nets would be getting younger and shaking up a roster that has proven itself to be a failure. The Hornets would get a talented veteran who could give them more outside shooting and help them make a playoff run. Charlotte is currently 19-26 and in eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The Nets, at 18-26, are a half-game behind them.

The post Report: Hornets, Nets Discussing Joe Johnson For Lance Stephenson Trade appeared first on SLAM.

Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls

This one was easy to see from a mile away, but Noah was nevertheless overvalued in most drafts this year. Noah is still the heart and soul of the Bulls, but it would have been impossible for him to live up to last year’s across the board numbers, and downright ignorant of fantasy owners to expect it. With the return of Derrick Rose, the emergence of All-Star-to-be Jimmy Butler, and the signing of Pau Gasol, the Bulls are no longer running the offense through Noah.

As a result, he is no longer leading NBA centers in assists, the scoring is way down, and the rebounding has declined. He is still the same player, but the Bulls have a better team around him. Fantasy owners should also pay close attention to Noah’s injury situation, as he failed to play more than 66 games prior to last season’s healthy 80 games. Owners need to adapt to this year’s Noah and lower their statistical expectations.

Deron Williams, Brooklyn Nets

It’s hard to believe that some fantasy owners still had expectations for Williams, perhaps swayed by an all too common theme of “finally healthy” that we’ve actually been hearing for a few years. At just 13.9 points, 6.3 assists and 1 steal per game, accompanied by a rib injury and Jarrett Jack sniping some of his playing time, D-Will is simply not a desirable guard to own.

Don’t expect that to change anytime soon, even after he returns from his most recent malady. His 39.6 field-goal percentage is a career low, and if you are counting on him to give you anything in the second half based on his past All-star performance, you’ll end up disappointed. The 30-year-old will still be productive in his career, but at a level several tiers down the point guard totem pole.

Larry Sanders, Milwaukee Bucks

Season averages of 9.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in 27 minutes per game would make fantasy owners pretty happy, but Sanders is now two years removed from that break-out season that landed him his huge contract. Still, some fantasy owners had reasonable expectations that he could return to that form this season after everything went wrong last year. Dominoes kept falling however, and even more has gone wrong this year.

Various injuries have accompanied inconsistent play, and Sanders isn’t even traveling with the team at this point due to personal reasons. Sanders will tease owners in drafts again next year with clear late-round sleeper potential. Owners can safely look elsewhere this season though, as coach Jason Kidd has settled on minutes for his big men and there won’t be much room for Sanders to make an impact on fantasy box scores even if he finds his way back to the court.

Lance Stephenson, Charlotte Hornets

After shooting 49 percent for the Indiana Pacers last season, Stephenson was expected by some to make strides and take on an increased scoring role in Charlotte, but everything unraveled quickly. He is shooting just 39 percent from the field and a miserable 15 percent from three, rendering him almost useless to fantasy owners after leading the League in triple-doubles last season.

He simply hasn’t fit in with his new teammates and a fresh start is pretty much necessary at this point. Rumors of the Hornets shopping him around have been loud and clear for a while now, so it’s only a matter of time before he is dealt. Fantasy owners would be wise to keep an eye on where he ends up, because the right situation could lead to a return to last year’s numbers or better for the seemingly volatile guard. There’s simply no reason for Charlotte to keep him.

Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets

Dwight hasn’t been bad, but he’s nowhere near elite at this point and owners expecting a return to such a level have been left with a sour taste in their mouths. It’s possible injuries are playing a role, but 1.6 blocks per game, his lowest average in nine seasons, has to be concerning. His 11.2 rebounds per game, which would be excellent by most players’ standards, is his lowest since his rookie season. Howard has shown flashes of dominance at times with some huge box scores, but it might be time for owners to resign themselves to the reality that 14-rebound and nearly 3-block averages are in the past.

This being said, Dwight gets a little too much hate directed his way due to his tumultuous season with the Los Angeles Lakers. He wasn’t the reason that team failed, even though the media and that team scapegoated him. As long as he is healthy when the Playoffs roll around, the Rockets are a title contender. Chances are that he can get his numbers up slightly for fantasy owners by season’s end as the Playoffs near. He’s still a strong fantasy option, but your fantasy team’s title hopes would be stronger if there are a few stars ahead of him on your depth chart. In the end though, a disappointing Dwight Howard is still better than a lot of players.

Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers

Love has dropped from 26.1 to 17.9 points per game, and is pulling in only 10.4 rebounds per game after averaging 13.7 over the course of the last four seasons in Minnesota. His field-goal percentage and assist numbers are down as well. One might think that his efficiency would improve with the defenses’ attention on LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, but that simply hasn’t been the case.

A drop in production was to be expected; after all, we saw it with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in Miami. But fantasy owners probably weren’t expecting this quick decline amidst a disappointing 20-20 start by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Don’t expect much improvement from his current line of production moving forward as the Cavs are currently constructed, but Love would still flourish in the right situation.

Terrence Jones, Houston Rockets

After coming out of nowhere last year in his rookie season, expectations were high for Jones coming into the 2014 campaign. He got off to a strong start, but it only lasted a week before a major injury took him out. He hasn’t returned yet and the Rockets haven’t exactly been forthcoming with his timetable. He should still return this year but unfortunately, the emergence of Donatas Motiejunas and the acquisition of Josh Smith are likely going to keep Jones in a bench role even if he does find his way back to the court. Fantasy owners can’t help but be disappointed that Jones wasn’t able to be the sleeper many expected him to be, but he is still going to be worth keeping an eye on if he gets healthy.

Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs

Parker’s decline to 14.8 points and 4.7 assists per game has been a result of some combination of age, injury, and Gregg Popovich strategy. While there’s almost no doubt that Tony Parker will be back to being Tony Parker when the playoffs roll around, fantasy owners are suffering as he takes his time getting back into form during the regular season. He makes for an interesting buy-low candidate, as he certainly can’t perform worse than he has, and his long career suggests improvement is likely. Keep in mind though that he will likely sit some games out at the end of the season, and that his minutes will be kept in check at times to keep his 32-year-old legs fresh.

Dan Hanna is SLAM’s weekly fantasy basketball columnist and a life-long Bulls fan. Follow him on Twitter @i_am_danhan. For advice on your fantasy team, post questions in the comments section.

The post Fantasy Basketball: Falling Stars appeared first on SLAM.

AND1 distributed sneaker and apparel to hundreds of kids at the Coney Island YMCA last Tuesday, and Stephenson appeared via a live video stream to give some encouraging words to the community. Check out photos from the event above.

Lance, who is averaging 10.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game so far in 2014-15, also reiterated his commitment to the Hornets.

The post Lance Stephenson, AND1 Host Holiday Gifting in Brooklyn (PHOTOS) appeared first on SLAM.

While the Hornets are looking to make changes after a poor start for a team expected to make the playoffs, there is no certainty they will move recently signed Lance Stephenson, whose time in Charlotte has been disappointing at best. According to league sources, Stephenson has clashed with teammates, and coach Steve Clifford has placed the onus of Stephenson’s adjustment on the team’s veteran players, hoping they could police themselves and convince Stephenson to become more of a team player. Stephenson may become a more attractive piece near the Feb. 19 trade deadline, but the Hornets would want value in return.

The post Report: Lance Stephenson Has ‘Clashed’ With Hornets Teammates appeared first on SLAM.

With a retail tag of $85, you can cop the AND1 Xcelerate at Eastbay and Footaction on Friday.

The post AND1 Xcelerate Releases Friday appeared first on SLAM.