The Pacers concluded the pre-season slate Thursday night in Charlotte, against Lance Stephenson and company. Many key Pacers were sidelined with injuries in the final tune-up, as was the team’s second-round pick in 2010.
But there was still plenty of discussion about him, particularly as those in Charlotte tried to examine just what the Hornets were getting this season.
“He is great to coach and one of the most coachable players that we’ve had,” said Pacers head coach Frank Vogel following their 88-79 victory to finish exhibition play with a 3-4 record. “I think he gets a bad rap with some of the things he did during the playoffs but that is not indicative of his coachability. I think he was always receptive and respectful to me.”
[From Thursday: Lance Stephenson welcomes former teammates to Charlotte]
The night before the game, Stephenson hosted George Hill, Roy Hibbert, Ian Mahinmi, rookie Shayne Whittington, and Heather Denton, the Pacers’ Director of Player Relations, out to dinner in his new city.
Dinner with @Dedemarie31 @Whittington21 @George_Hill3 @ianmahinmi n @StephensonLance. Glad for him n his fam in Char pic.twitter.com/Eu8JlEitgc
— Roy Hibbert (@Hoya2aPacer) October 23, 2014
More Pacers were asked about Lance, and their relationship with him. Read Hibbert’s comments below:
“He was one of the funniest guys on the team,” said Hibbert. “He was definitely a character on and off the court. He’s going to get the crowd going even if he’s not staring at the crowd or doing anything. [He just does it] how he plays. Fans love him.”
(On if Lance Stephenson has that All-Star potential)
Oh yeah, hands down. He should have been an all-star last year. I say that all the time. He led the league in triple-doubles. He played with his heart.
(On if Lance Stephenson gets a bad rap)
If you really get to know this guy; if you sit here and spend time with him [and] go to dinner with him or in the locker room, there’s not one bad thing you can say about him. He’s just very passionate.
(On Lance Stephenson being the leader here as opposed to his role in Indiana)
I think it was the next process for him. Just like James Harden in OKC when they traded him to Houston. It was the next process [for him]. He’s going to embrace that.