National Basketball Association

Hornets guard Stephenson ready to lead, take game to next level

Published Sep. 29, 2014 6:25 p.m. ET

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- When Lance Stephenson met with Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan for the first time during the offseason in Las Vegas, he said he was awestruck and practically couldn't speak.

He idolized the man many consider to be the best basketball player to ever put on a pair of sneakers and to have him sitting directly across from him and trying to lure the free agent to Charlotte was a bit overwhelming for Stephenson, who said he owns every pair of Air Jordan shoe ever made. After leaving that meeting this summer, Stephenson, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard, knew being a Hornet was in the cards.

"I feel like I came to the Hornets at the right time," Stephenson said Monday at the team's media day event. "We changed the name and we changed the swagger. Everybody is happy about the new pieces that we got in place. Just the atmosphere here, you walk around and everybody is like, 'Hey Lance, we can't wait for the season to start.'"

With Stephenson, who's only 24 years old, comes great expectations for Charlotte, which made it to the playoffs for only the second time in the franchise's 10-year existence after finishing 43-39 during the regular season.

Many feel and expect that the Hornets will not only make the playoffs, but contend for the Southeast Division and earn at least home-court-advantage in the first round of the NBA playoffs. And many of those expectations are a direct result of the Hornets landing Stephenson.

Last season with Indiana, Stephenson averaged 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. He also led the NBA in triple-doubles. That's quite a far cry from where he was through his first two seasons in the league, which saw him play in a combined 54 games and scored only 143 points. His third year at Indiana saw his numbers rise, including his shooting percentage, before getting to the point where he made 49.1 percent of his shots last season, including 35.2 percent from 3-point range.

"I think he'll score more here because he'll be up a notch in the order to make plays," Charlotte coach Steve Clifford said. "I think he can do everything. He's a guy that can really play well in all areas of the game."

Besides bringing an instant offensive game that the Hornets so desperately need is that Stephenson brings playoff experience, even though he's still very young. Stephenson has started in 37 postseason games, including making it to the Eastern Conference Finals in each of the last two seasons.

"(Signing Stephenson) was music to my ears," said center Al Jefferson, a member of the All-NBA Team. "He's been to where we're trying to go."

While Stephenson said he's getting acclimated to his new teammates and that they're "a bunch of cool guys," he said there's one particular thing he's extremely happy about -- the uniform change.

"I'm glad we've got the teal and purple," he said. "I didn't like the blue and orange."

Stephenson has never been shy about saying how good he thinks he is or what he brings to the table on a daily basis in terms of play. And he says that he's ready to be even better.

"I want me game to go to the superstar level," he said. "I just want to take the leadership role. I do whatever it takes to win. My teammates will understand once they see me on the floor."

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