Guard Lance Stephenson spent much of his first two seasons with the Indiana Pacers planted on the bench. At times, he was force fed minutes by the coaching staff. Then he capped off his second season by showing his potential in the regular-season finale.
Now it's time for Stephenson to step up and show if he's truly ready to be a legitimate rotation player.
What's different for Stephenson now is his biggest advocate -- former team president Larry Bird -- isn't around any more.
It's on Stephenson to prove doubters wrong . . . that his streetball style can translate to the NBA.
"I'll say this is the year we really have to find out who Lance is, how Lance can help us and where we go from here with his future," said assistant coach Dan Burke, who is coaching the Pacers summer league team.
Stephenson, 21, knows it's a make-or-break season for him. His contract is non-guaranteed next season. That's why he's spending the summer in Indianapolis working out at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, playing on the summer league team and also participating in the Pro Am at IUPUI on Tuesday and Thursday nights.
"I'm just trying to stay focused, not trying to wander everywhere," Stephenson said. "Trying to make sure my body is right. I want to be in game shape as much as possible, which is why I'm playing as much as I can."
Stephenson averaged 2.5 points in almost 11 minutes a game during 42 appearances last season. There was a stretch in the season where coach Frank Vogel gave him minutes every game. That changed later in the season when the Pacers were making a push for home court in the playoffs.
Stephenson capped off his second season by scoring 22 points in the regular season finale vs. Chicago. He hit 10-of-15 shots in 35 minutes. It was his first start as a pro.
"It gave me a lot of confidence," Stephenson said. "It showed I can let the game come to me and I can be effective."
Bird was elated about that April eruption. It was Bird who called Stephenson the team's best player during a press conference in June 2011.
Bird, who stepped down as president last week, does plan to be in Orlando next week. Bird joked that he wanted to watch Stephenson play every minute of every game.
"Larry Bird has made it harder on me so I'm going to show him what I'm about," Stephenson said laughing. "I'm definitely going to miss him, he's a father figure to me."
Burke said he wants Stephenson to work on the little things during their four-day minicamp at the fieldhouse and during their five games in Orlando next week.
How he interacts with his teammates on and off the court during practice.
How he leads the team when he's playing point guard.
How he responds when things aren't going well.
"His shot has improved, he's a pass first kind of kid, which you have to love," Burke said. "Just making plays where his teammates are ready and understand which teammate can make which play from which spots. And he's got a lot of growth coming at him. I think his mental approach, I'm going to start (there) at first."
Stephenson will play some minutes at point guard next week just in case he has to play the position at some point down the road, but he'll mainly be used at shooting guard, allowing him to create off the dribble.
"I'm not just working on scoring, I'm letting the game come to me," Stephenson said. "I'm just going to play hard and it'll show."
Pacers sign Plumlee
The Pacers signed rookie center Miles Plumlee to a four-year contract Thursday. The first two years of Plumlee's contract are guaranteed with the third and fourth years being a team option.
Plumlee, the No. 26 pick in last week's draft, will make $1.8 million in the first two years of his contract.
Call Star reporter Mike Wells at (317) 444-6053.
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