Indiana Pacers: 3 former players we’d love to see in BIG3

Pacers enforcer Lance Stephenson would be an all-around solid BIG3 teammate

OK, let’s be real, we’d really rather see Lance Stephenson suit up in an Indiana Pacers uniform before we’d want to see him in the BIG3. Stephenson still has professional skills and seems to unlock a treasure trove of superpowers any time he puts a shirt with “Indiana” across his chest.

Stephenson has spent this season playing in the Chinese Basketball Association, averaging 26.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists this year. To kick off 2020, Stephenson scored 41 points on January 1st.

The CBA is currently on hold until July after an initial push to resume their season according to Jonathon Givony. This may complicate Stephenson playing in BIG3 or for the Pacers this year.

Prior to COVID-19 gripping China and the United States, Stephenson was already hoping to return to the NBA once his season in China wrapped according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports. The Pacers were an obvious potential landing spot for him, as they always are when Stephenson is mentioned in the same breath as the NBA.

Stephenson had a nine-year NBA career and put up career averages of 8.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. He shot 44.4 percent from the field and 31.5 percent from beyond the arc throughout his career.

A player not afraid to get the dirty work done especially on the defensive end, he fits the mold that often fits the BIG3 — an underappreciated player with relative name recognition and entertainment value.

Playing with seven different teams over the course of his NBA career, Stephenson has slotted into many different rosters and lineups over the year. He’d be a versatile option for any team looking to fill out its roster and add a player that can score from all areas of the floor.

We need more Lance on TV, anyway.