Former NBA pro Lance Stephenson has been forced to take his basketball talents to Puerto Rico after a 10-year career — and says he misses playing in the spotlight.
“I definitely miss the NBA now that I am playing in Puerto Rico. I did not want to leave. So my goal right now is to get back in there and show them that I am born ready,” he told The Post.
The Brooklyn native played for the Pacers and the Hawks in 2021-22 but then failed to find a roster spot with any NBA team last season.
He signed with Puerto Rico’s Leones de Ponce for the 2023 season.
“I don’t feel like it was a personal jab towards me to no longer be in the NBA,” he said. “There is a lot of great players. So for me not to be in the NBA right now it is OK because I know it is just another chance. There are guys coming up so I am always able to get back in there as long as I work hard.”
The 32-year-old made headlines when he blew in former Lakers teammate LeBron James’ ear as the Pacers faced the Heat in Game 5 of the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals.
Now the former Coney Island resident has two teams in mind when it comes to returning back to the NBA.
“I think it is time for a New York team. I want to play for the [Brooklyn] Nets or the Knicks either one would do,“ he said.
The father of five was drafted by the Pacers with the No. 40 pick in the second round in 2010.
He went on to play for the Hornets, Clippers, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Timberwolves, Lakers and Hawks, with two more stops in Indiana along the way.
“I feel like I did enough for people to remember me and know me as one of the top players that played in New York,” he said. “I feel like I am just New York.”
The shooting guard showed support by attending the AND1 30th anniversary for NYC Open Run Tour on Sunday at Kingdome in Harlem and he was sure to clarify the difference between street ballers and NBA players.
“It is a different type of game when it comes to street ball and playing in the NBA,” Stephenson said. “You have to know the game. Playing in the NBA you can’t use a lot of the streetball stuff. You got to know how to do it. It is just a difference between playing super organized and playing street ball.”
While so many kids dream of making it into the NBA, the 6-foot-6 wing says despite the odds of making it, there are other ways to maneuver the highly regulated sport.
“You can use basketball to get into college, get four years in college and from there you will be able to do other things besides basketball,” he said. “So I tell kids whatever it is you do just go as hard as you can to make it into college and get a scholarship. Once you get that scholarship whatever you do after college you will have a game plan.”
Harlem’s own “Mikey Likes It” served ice cream to all attending patrons.