On February 4, Beijing time, the Pacers officially announced that the team and Stephenson signed a contract until the end of the season. Congratulations to the master and disciple, finally turned right. How difficult is it for the master and disciple to get this contract? On Jan. 2, the Pacers signed Stephenson with a 10-day hardship exception, followed by three consecutive 10-day contracts, adding up to four 10-day contracts.
Fast forward to December 22, 2021, when the Eagles signed a 10-day contract. Stephenson played six games for the Hawks, averaging just 1.8 points per game, and the Hawks didn't renew his contract. The instructions of the master and disciple were in the hands of the Pacers, and after returning to Indiana, he regained the style of the former NBA's "first Zhan Fu".
So far this season, he has played in 17 games for the Pacers, averaging 9.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game, shooting 48% from the field and 30% from three-point range. Averaging 9.4 points per game is also his highest average in a single season since he left the Pacers in 2014. He's only 31 years old, but the last time he played in the NBA was in the 2018-19 season.
In the 2018-19 season, he played in 68 games for the Lakers, averaging 7.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.6 steals per game, shooting 42.6% from the field and 37.1% from three-point range. Since then, he has worked hard to return to the NBA, playing 12 games in the development league this season, averaging 19.8 points, 8 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
Stephenson left many famous scenes in the NBA, including blowing and playing the pipa for James, and he also received the nicknames of "the first Zhan blowing" and "pipa king". Recalling the act of blowing gas to James, the disciple said: "I just wanted to make him angry, so as to distract him, and then help us win the game!" ”
In the 2019-20 season, Stephenson joined the CBA, where he played in 29 games for Liaoning, averaging 26.7 points, 7.4 boards and 3.8 assists and 1.1 breaks per game. The personality of the master and disciple is always a double-edged sword, and he and his teammate Bass have an open quarrel.
Later, the CBA resumed, and Liaoning signed Mayo to replace Stephenson. Although his disciple was temporarily unemployed, he was still optimistic. Posting their new hairstyles on social media, both Wade and James commented on laughing and crying expressions...
It is really not easy to return to the NBA this time, and I hope that the master and disciple can play better and better! Come on!