Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA: 20 Players Turning Their Seasons Around

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 3, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons (25) drives to the basket past Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) during the first half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons (25) drives to the basket past Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) during the first half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 21
Next
NBA
Feb 27, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Memphis Grizzlies head coach David Joerger talks with Memphis Grizzlies forward Lance Stephenson (1) and Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley (11) during the second half against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns won 111-106. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

18. Lance Stephenson

By now, most people have probably given up on Lance Stephenson. Ever since leaving the Indiana Pacers in the summer of 2014 after a career season, Born Ready has bounced around the league, now suiting up for his third team over the last one and a half seasons. He was ran out of Charlotte, and his promising Clippers tenure died as quickly as the “bench mob” hype built up.

After averaging 4.7 points and 2.5 rebounds in a meager 15.8 minutes per game under Doc Rivers, it wasn’t surprising to see Lob City unload him before the 2016 NBA Trade Deadline. But for a Memphis Grizzlies team that traded away its two best wings at the deadline, Stephenson has slipped right into the same kind of tough-minded defensive-oriented culture that helped him thrive in Indiana.

Through his first five games in Memphis, Born Ready is averaging 12.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 23.8 minutes per game while shooting 53.1 percent from the floor. He has yet to hit a three-pointer, he’s made a few questionable plays and this is another small sample size. But those are by far the best numbers since his career year with the Pacers when he led the NBA in triple-doubles.

Next: No. 17