Veteran forward Lance Stephenson will be staying with the Indiana Pacers for the remainder of the 2021-22 NBA season. Pacers confirmed the news on Thursday via social media.
Stephenson previously played on three 10-day contracts with the Pacers. He averaged 9.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 17 games.
Stephenson was out of the NBA since 2018-19 after deciding to play in China with the Liaoning Flying Leopards. He returned to the United States this season, entering the NBA G League Draft, where he was selected by the Denver Nuggets’ affiliate Grand Rapids Gold.
After averaging 19.8 points in G League, Stephenson got a call from Atlanta Hawks, who signed him to a 10-day deal in late December. He played a marginal role in Atlanta, spending less than 12 minutes on court per contest, but the move did help him find his way back to Indiana.
The 2021-22 season marks Lance Stephenson’s third stint with the Pacers, who drafted him in the second round of the 2010 NBA draft. Stephenson spent four years with the franchise in his first stint before leaving as a free agent in 2014 to sign with the Charlotte Hornets. He then returned for 2017-18 before leaving the following offseason.
Aside from the Pacers and the Hornets, Stephenson played for several more NBA franchises, including the Los Angeles Clippers and the Memphis Grizzlies. His NBA career averages include 8.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game.
