Yahoo Sports Lance Stephenson: ‘Anthony Edwards reminds me of me with the super green light’
Lance Stephenson has enjoyed a 10-year career in the NBA, and is currently tearing it up with the G League Iowa Wolves. During All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, he sat down with HoopsHype on behalf of Panini America to talk about his career, trash-talking, China memes, his experience overseas, and more.
You’ve been killing it in the G League. What has your mentality been like coming into this season?
Lance Stephenson: My mentality coming into the G League was to actually help the young guys get better. Show them all the things I learned as being a vet. Trying to show them the ropes, telling them what it’s like, showing them how to play defense, showing them how to get to the hole, learning the game as quickly as possible. But, my goal is to get back up there with NBA teams. I’m actually going hard, trying to win games, and just trying to have fun out there.
If you could talk to NBA teams right now, what would you tell them about what you could bring to their NBA team?
LS: Leadership. Definitely, helping young guys. Winning mentality, just that edge on the defensive end. A lot of teams need help with defense, especially during the playoffs. Tough guys that can play defense and lock down and win games. I can bring any edge that a coach needs.
What happens on the court is only a small fraction of what players have to deal with. Most things during the season occur off the court. Talking about leadership, what sorts of advice can you bring to younger players off the court?
LS: There’s a lot of things going on in the world… just knowing when to walk away from it, or going the opposite way. Learning how to save money. A lot of guys have trouble saving their money as they continue to get it. As a young player coming up, it’s hard to say no to people. I would tell the young guys, man, if you don’t feel comfortable with it, say no.
When you came in the league, there were a lot of veterans on teams. Nowadays, there’s a lot less, and there’s a lot of younger players. In your mind, you being a vet now, do you feel like there should be a lot more vets in the league now?
LS: Definitely. When I first came in, I was hot-headed. I was spoiled all my life. Coming in as a rookie, I had those vets that taught me to calm down. You gotta do this, you gotta do that in order to have longevity to be in the NBA. Everybody wants to be in the NBA for a long time. So I think it’s good to have veterans on your teams to actually help the young guys, more than just bringing in a lot of new young faces. I know there’s a lot of young guys that are talented and belong, but when you have a veteran that actually leads you, helps you, and guides you through all the situations that are gonna be thrown at you as a rookie, I feel like guys need that. So I feel like having a veteran is very helpful.
Do you feel like every team should have their own Udonis Haslem on their team?
LS: Yes. At least two or three veterans, that can actually still play, but any veterans that can help the guys. Show them how to play defense, how to move off the court. There’s a lot of situations off the court that guys don’t even know that be hitting them, and they don’t got nobody to talk to. You be in the locker room and just having so much talks about life situations, and it’s always good to have a veteran over there. Air hustling like, “Nah, don’t do it that way young fella, do it this way.”
Social media now is so much more different compared to when you were in the league. It’s a lot crazier now. What's your take on that?
LS: It was crazy then, but now it’s like everything’s exposed. You just got to be careful with whatever you do. Everybody’s taping something. I seen somebody taping me going into an Uber before. I was like bro. It was from like the top of a building. “Yo, Lance is going in the Uber,” and they tagged me. I was like bro, how did he know I was coming out of the hotel going in the Uber? But like everything’s exposed. You just gotta be careful, you gotta move smart, and be aware.
Are you glad you weren’t in the NBA in this era?
LS: No, I’m actually mad. I actually like this era. It seems like the game is getting so much funner. Guys are doing different moves that we wasn’t doing when I first came in. Super athletic, and just everything seems more exciting.
What are some players that really appeal to you when you watch?
LS: My favorite player right now is Anthony Edwards. He reminds me of me with the super green light. [Laughs] I actually like watching him play, he plays really hard, talks junk. He wants to win almost every game, and he just got that dog, and I see that, ‘cause I had that same dog when I was coming up, so I actually like Anthony Edwards.
When you see that trash-talking, does that remind you a lot of yourself?
LS: [Laughs] Oh yeah, definitely. That’s why I really like him. After scoring, he’s like “Yeah, wassup” and don’t back down from anybody, so I had that same mentality coming in as a young guy. I feel like you gotta have that. You gotta have respect. You gotta respect everybody, but I don’t feel like you have to bow down just ‘cause they older than you. You gotta go after them, you gotta solidify your spot, and I feel like he got that edge, and he bring that hunger every game.
Was there a specific time you got under an opponent’s skin, and they were just complete trash the rest of the game?
LS: [Laughs] I don’t wanna call out no names, man. I got good one-line punch lines that could break somebody’s focus. And get under their skin and have them messing up throughout the game. I learned that from New York, playing street ball in Rucker Park, and stuff like that. You hear a lot of guys talking junk, and you gotta be strong. You gotta be mentally strong ‘cause guys in the crowd, on the court, they’re saying unbelievable stuff, and I have you and I wanna fight! So growing up in New York, that’s why I got that trash-talking edge.
What’s your favorite story about Paul George?
LS: Actually, it was great. We actually pushed each other. We came in as rookies together, so we were pushing each other, trying to get that starting position. We actually got a chance to start with each other. Me and him, are like this [close]. I feel like I push him, he push me everyday to get better. As a rookie, you need a guy that’s doing the same thing that you doing. I feel like being a rookie alone and not having a guy that’s going through the same things you are is kinda tough. Man, I had a great time with Paul George.
What was your favorite experience when you were in China?
LS: Actually just learning the culture. Learned a lot of new things about China, ‘cause China is like in its own world. It’s so much fun. You got a Miami China, you got a Vegas China. The layout is sick. When I was traveling, I was like, “Bro, this is crazy.” It’s similar to the U.S. I had a great time, especially learning the language, learning the culture, just having fun.
When players have a bad game, people are posting things about those players ending up in China. What’s your take on that?
LS: No, no. I feel like China’s a good thing. I don’t take it like going to China is actually bad, so those memes don’t make sense to me. ‘Cause I had a great time in China. I got to play with a lot of good Chinese guys out there. I feel like guys, especially at the end of their careers, like go try it out. I actually had a good time, good money, good culture. I mean, I had a good time, when I see those memes, I’m like, “Bro go there, you’re gonna have fun.” [Laughs]
After your experience in China, did you feel like you learned something new about yourself?
LS: It was good, but actually kind of tough because being away from my family. Missing Christmas, missing graduations, and stuff like that. That’s the only thing that kind of bothered me while I was out in China, but other than that man, I had a great time, ‘cause I got to play. When I was in the league, I was only playing like 25 minutes… in China I was playing like 40 minutes. I’m having a good time. I had the super green light out there. Shooting like 40 shots a game, man. I’m shooting from half-court, talking junk. [Laughs]
If this is it for you and your career, what’s the lowest point of your NBA career?
LS: Being in the NBA is no low moment. You know how hard it is to get into the NBA? It’s hard for me to get in the NBA right now as a vet, and I’m established. Being in the NBA is a blessing. I grew up playing basketball and for me to be able to do that and support my family and have fun doing it. I don’t feel like there’s no low moments. Even if you’re not playing, you’re cheering, you’re clapping. Come on, man. You in the limelight. It’s a blessing to be on an NBA team, so I don’t have no low moment in the NBA.
Who are your top five players all time?
LS: Man, this is hard. A lot of people get mad. My Top 5, I’m just going to do position-wise… no I’m not. So Kobe [Bryant], [Michael] Jordan, no order, LeBron [James], Tim Duncan, Shaq[uille O’Neal]. That’s my starting five right there. I know there gonna be a lot of argument of who gonna shoot the ball, but I think they’ll figure it out and actually beat everybody that everyone else picks.
When you were growing up, did you play with trading cards?
LS: Actually, I didn’t, but my friends did, so they used to always give me different cards. You know, I’m a basketball player and a super fan. My first couple of cards that I got were Stephon Marbury, Ray Allen, Shaquille O’Neal. I actually got the craziest card, a holographic Michael Jordan card. I wish I still had it to this day because I was so hyped. I was like ‘Ma, I got this card, Michael Jordan holographic. She’s like boy, go put them cards away.’ So yeah, I had a couple cards when I was young.
What does it mean to you to finally see yourself on these Panini cards now?
LS: Man, this is awesome because when I see that Michael Jordan card, now that I see my card, I’m like, “Man, I made it!” The best card that Panini made of me was [when] they had a piece of me in my No. 1 jersey in the card, and it was holographic with the coldest picture of me going to the basket. My muscles were all showing, and I had an aggressive face. I was like, “Man, this is the best card ever.”
