‘Born Ready’ is heading overseas.
Indiana Pacers guard Lance Stephenson will play in either China or Italy during the NBA lockout, according to his agent.
“We’re working on a couple things and we’ve narrowed it down to Italy and China for now,” Alberto Ebanks told SNY.tv by phone. “He’s excited about just getting a run going while the lockout is in place. I think it’s important to stay in basketball shape so he’s about to bust a move.” (more…)
NEW YORK — Lance Stephenson might as well get a cot and move into Madison Square Garden this weekend.
“Born Ready” was courtside Saturday night to watch his old friend Kemba Walker and the UConn Huskies beat Louisville, 69-66, for the Big East championship.
The Brooklyn native will be right back at the Garden on Sunday at 1 p.m. to watch his alma mater, Lincoln High School, take on Boys & Girls for the PSAL championship.
And then Stephenson will cap off his Big Apple weekend when his Indiana Pacers visit the Knicks at 6 o’clock. (more…)
“Born Ready” finally got into a game.
Lance Stephenson logged his first NBA minutes Sunday, notching two points, a rebound, and two assists in the Indiana Pacers’ 110-108 overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns.
According to the Indianapolis Star, Lance Stephenson Sr. threw confetti into the air after his son made each of his two free throws. (more…)
NEW YORK — The Indiana Pacers’ coaching change could spell good news for Brooklyn’s Lance Stephenson.
And Roy Hibbert, Tyler Hansbrough and Paul George, too.
“I think a lot of times the young guys are going to be the ones that help you win the most,” Pacers interim coach Frank Vogel said Sunday, according to the Indy Star. “I can’t play all 15 guys. That’s one of the challenges of being a head coach.
“I think our fans should be excited. This is going to be an exciting part of the second half of the year.” (more…)
By MIKE VORKUNOV
NEW YORK — The Lance Stephenson who made his name at Madison Square Garden and the one who arrived there Sunday are not one and the same.
The former saw his place in New York City prep lore crystallized with four straight PSAL championships while at Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn. The latter can’t get himself off of the inactive list for the Indiana Pacers.
Yesterday seems so far away.
But whenever Stephenson steps back into the Garden, as he did when Indiana fell to the Knicks, 98-92, he gets that old bravado back.
“I feel like I can’t miss on this court when I’m playing,” he said. (more…)
“Born Ready” apparently isn’t ready for the NBA just yet.
During his storied career at Lincoln High School, Lance Stephenson, nicknamed “Born Ready,” enjoyed some of his brightest moments under the lights at Madison Square Garden.
The all-time leading scorer in New York State history, Stephenson led Lincoln to four Public Schools Athletic League titles in the famed arena.
But when the 6-foot-5 Stephenson returns to the Garden Sunday as an Indiana Pacers rookie, he’ll likely be sitting on the end of the bench in a suit as his teammates battle the Knicks (18-14). (more…)
Lance Stephenson will have to wait for his day in court.
The Pacers rookie guard appeared in Brooklyn Criminal Court Tuesday morning because he is accused of pushing his girlfriend, Jasmine Williams, down a flight of stairs, but the court date was pushed back to Feb. 25, 2011.
“Nothing of any consequence in court,” texted Alberto Ebanks, his attorney. “New date, that’s all.”
The Pacers had no immediate comment. (more…)
“The allegations against Lance Stephenson Jr. are very serious. Mr. Stephenson did not maliciously, intentionally or in any other way cause harm to Jasmine Williams.
“Everyone, especially Lance, regrets that this incident occurred. We look forward to addressing these charges in the appropriate venue.”
As first reported here earlier Monday, Stephenson, a 6-foot-5 rookie guard with the Indiana Pacers, faces a preliminary hearing Oct. 19 in Brooklyn criminal court.
He was charged with assault, attempted assault, harassment, menacing and criminal possession of a weapon after pushing Williams, the mother of his daughter, down a flight of stairs early Sunday morning after she returned with two friends to her Brooklyn apartment.
Lance Stephenson is in trouble again.
At 5:05 Sunday morning Coney Island police responded to an assault charge at 621 Avenue Z, according to the police report. Upon the arrival of police, they discovered Stephenson’s girlfriend, Jasmine Williams, who stated that her boyfriend, the 19-year-old rookie guard with the Indiana Pacers, pushed her down a flight of stairs, striking her head against the wall. She was transported to Lutheran Hospital in stable condition.
Stephenson, the No. 40 pick in this year’s NBA Draft, was taken into custody at the scene and charged with assault, attempted assault, harassment, menacing and criminal possession of a weapon.
Asked where he was on Sunday night, a NYPD spokesman said, “He’s down in Brooklyn court.” (more…)
The Indiana Pacers signed second-round draft pick Lance Stephenson to a multi-year deal Thursday.
The deal includes two years guaranteed and two years at a team option, a Pacers source said.
Stephenson will earn over $700,000 the first year and over $800,000 the second. Incentives could bump up that up $100,000 annually.
“He had a great summer league and the future is looking bright for him,” the source said.
(Photo courtesy AP)
“Adam Zagoria sees the story behind the daily happenings.”
~ St. Anthony Coach Bob Hurley
Zagoria covers the New York Knicks and Big East hoops for NBA.com and SNY.tv. He also appears as a Big East Basketball Insider on SNY and 1050 ESPN Radio.
He is an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, SI and Basketball Times.
