On January 10, Beijing time, according to the news of reporter Marc Stein, the Pacers are expected to sign with team forward Stephenson until the end of the season. Stephenson relied on his third walker's journey to conquer head coach Carlisle. Stephenson is currently one day away from signing a difficult special contract with the team.
With 30 teams constantly sidelined with players triggering health and safety agreements, several veterans have been given the opportunity to return to the league this season, and Stephenson is one of them. He had previously signed a short 10-day contract with the Hawks and the Pacers, giving him the opportunity to perform on the field. He has played in 10 games this season and averaged 6.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 16.1 minutes per game.
Among them, in the Pacers' home game against the Nets, Stephenson scored 20 points on 8-of-9 bench appearances in the first quarter, becoming the first player in league history to score 20 points on the bench in the first quarter. In this game, although the Pacers suffered a major reversal by the Nets, Stephenson's performance of 30 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists is worthy of recognition. At one point, he also celebrated with his signature "guitar playing" action during the game, giving people the feeling of dreaming back to the peak.
Later, in a home game against the Jazz, Stephenson performed well again. He played less than 30 minutes and had a comprehensive stat of 16 points, 6 rebounds and 14 assists, including a career-high assist that helped the team win at home to the Jazz.
For Stephenson, the Pacers' players and management have all spoken highly of him. Main center Sabonis said he was teammates with Stephenson in the 17-18 season, but now Stephenson has a stronger feeling: "He's a really good player, and I like the performance with him. His ability to read the game is excellent and I feel like he's improving every year. Sabonis said.
Head coach Carlisle also did not hesitate to praise Stephenson when talking about him. He thinks Stephenson can bring a different feeling to the team and help the team get better. Carlisle said he chose Stephenson in the hope that there would be some players with personalities who would bring energy to the bench. While many scoffed at Stevenson's return, it turned out they weren't wrong with their choices, and Stevenson's performance was fantastic.
As a veteran who has played in the league for 9 seasons, Stephenson has seized the opportunity this time and successfully returned to the league. The Pacers happened to be where his career began and where he became famous, and he could go back to his original starting point to continue his career, and Stephenson was also complete.
(Text/Yuwen Basketball)