Lance Stephenson signs contract with new basketball team
It's been over a year since former Pacers guard Lance Stephenson last played professional basketball. He was ready for another opportunity.
UPDATE — April 29: Lance Stephenson arrived in Puerto Rico, started and finished with 29 points, eight rebounds and four assists in his debut. It was also his first pro game in over a year.
Lance Stephenson will resume playing professional basketball this weekend.
The former Pacers guard has signed with Leones de Ponce in Puerto Rico, a source confirmed to Fieldhouse Files Thursday night.
The team announced the deal on Thursday, saying Stephenson was replacing Chason Randle. They are coached by Sergio Hernández.
The Baloncesto Superior National League season runs through mid-June. And several notable players have played in this league recently, including Mad Ants guard Elfrid Payton and DeMarcus Cousins.
This is an opportunity for Stephenson to get back to playing the game he loves and get a nice paycheck in return. He did not sign with an NBA team for the 2022-23 season so his last game played was on April 10, 2022 in Brooklyn.
With plenty of guard depth, the Pacers elected not to re-sign him last fall.
See Also: Lance unplugged — Grateful, humbled and hopeful to continue on with Indiana
In the meantime, he’s mostly remained in Indianapolis and worked out at a gym in Fishers. “Never doubt yourself,” Stephenson wrote on Instagram. “Remind confidence and poise. Keep focus and avoid distractions.”
The team says Stephenson is expected to make his debut on Friday night at 8:00 p.m. ET. That game can be watched live on YouTube. They are 6-9 and have lost four of their past five games.