The BIG3 Obtains Another Shocking Former NBA Player

Lance Stephenson, known notoriously for his three-time stint with the Indiana Pacers, will be leaving the NBA to join Ice Cube’s BIG3 league. How will he fare in this new venture?

Lance Stephenson’s NBA Career

The 10-year NBA veteran played for eight teams and played a significant role in the Pacers’ Eastern Conference Finals appearances in 2013 and 2014. Both appearances resulted in a loss for the Pacers to the Miami Heat.

Selected 40th overall by the Pacers in 2010 out of the University of Cincinnati, Lance Stephenson was a fan favorite for practically every team he played for. His play often consisted of flashy play to go along with a few mocking gestures.

His best year came in the 2013-14 season with the Indiana Pacers, where he averaged 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in 78 games played. He would go on to be a free agent from the years 2019-2021, where he would once again become a member of the Indiana Pacers. In 40 games played, he averaged 9.3 points on nearly 46% from the field. This was his last year in the NBA, and he did not gain any attention from another NBA team since.

Lance Stephenson Joins the BIG3

On Thursday night, the BIG3 held its 9th-ever draft. The Miami 305 decided to draft Stephenson with their first overall pick. Miami is a part of three expansion teams for the league. Former NBA players, Mario Chalmers, Michael Beasley, and Reggie Evans are a part of the team’s roster and are coached by former Los Angeles Laker, Michael Cooper. The new BIG3 season will begin on Saturday, June 14th, and will be featured on Paramount+.

Final Thoughts

It has become very interesting to see what the BIG3 has been doing. Like the CFL and UFL, it provides players with another opportunity to do the thing they love and gives fans more time to watch some of their favorite players still compete. While these players may be out of their prime, it’s nice to see them getting another shot.