Before the 2014-15 season, Lance Stephenson was a promising, athletic wing who could defend and handle the ball, and who was leaving Indiana for the Charlotte Hornets to take on a bigger offensive role. His shooting needed a little work, but he was young. After the season, he was a broken offensive player who still had the athleticism, but it came with serious doubts about his attitude and ability to evolve his game. Or at least, that was the perception of Lance at the time of his trade to the Los Angeles Clippers. Now, back on a playoff contender, Stephenson has the opportunity to change his image around the league one more time.
In a column for The Player’s Tribune, Stephenson expresses his excitement to start fresh in Los Angeles, and draws parallels between playing for a veteran ballclub like the Clippers and balling with older kids in the playgrounds of Brooklyn, where he grew up.
I always liked playing with the older guys because it forced me to bring my game up to their level. As a result, I dominated whenever I would go back and play against fellow sixth- and seventh-graders.
It’s been a long time since I was that lanky kid on the courts of Surf Ave. playing against the “bigger kids.” However, in heading to L.A., I am going to a contender with plenty of veteran experience. I know that I can learn from them just like I learned from the older kids on Coney Island.
If you wanted to read between the lines, you could see Lance acknowledging that the lack of veteran leadership in Charlotte last year contributed to his down season, but he doesn’t say anything about it directly. In fact, he doesn’t mention the words “Charlotte” or “Hornets” once in his column.
Like with every Player’s Tribune column, Stephenson’s piece has an almost eerily-polished feel, but it’s still a worthwhile read, especially if you’re a Clippers fan looking for reassurance that Lance will be more mentally engaged in L.A. next season.
(Via The Players’ Tribune)
