Lance Stephenson was once among the best role players in the NBA.
During the 2019 season, the ten-year veteran played for the Los Angeles Lakers and averaged 7.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per contest while shooting 42.6% from the field and 37.1% from the three-point range in 68 games.
That was LeBron James' first season with the Lakers, but the team dealt with injuries and missed the postseason (they went 37-45).
In a recent interview with Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson of Bally Sports, Stephenson made a bold claim about his time with the Lakers.
Stephen via Robinson: "If certain guys didn't get hurt that year, we woulda won it."
In addition to his one year with the Lakers, Stephenson has also spent time with the Indiana Pacers, Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans.
He most recently played in the league during the 2021-22 season and has career averages of 8.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per contest while shooting 44.5% from the field and 31.4% from the three-point range in 554 regular season games (he has also appeared in 57 NBA playoff games).
Stephenson was initially the 40th pick in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Pacers, and he has had three separate tenures with the franchise.
In 2013 and 2014, he was among the top five players on the team and helped them make the Eastern Conference Finals in back-to-back seasons (they lost to the Miami Heat both times).
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