During a press conference for the Los Angeles Lakers, General Manager Rob Pelinka addressed the moves made during this busy off-season, and discussed the signing of former Indiana Pacer, Lance Stephenson. He described Stephenson as a player with toughness and edge, and that is what every team competing for a title needs. The Laker GM compared Stephenson to Dennis Rodman who played with Michael Jordan during the Chicago Bull’s 90’s Championship run, and Metta World Peace who was a key contributor during the Lakers championship run in 2009 and 2010.
He certainly makes a good point considering Stephenson has always been an irritant and rival of LeBron James in several Eastern Conference playoff battles, and James seems to corroborate this sentiment as it was reported that it was he who recruited Stephenson to join the team.
In addition to that, Pelinka commented on a discussion that he and James had about how “playing the Golden State Warriors at their own game is a trap” and they came to the conclusion that defense and toughness would give the Lakers the advantage that they are looking for.
Stephenson is only 27 years of age, and is coming off of a season where he averaged 9.2 points and 5.2 rebounds a game.
Flip the page for the video of Stephenson personally addressing playing with James in Los Angeles for the first time!