Lance Stephenson wants to show LeBron James that bitter rivals can become frenemies on the Los Angeles Lakers. Yahoo Sports' Shams Charania is reporting that Stephenson will join James as the two team up on the Lakers next season.
Lance Stephenson and LeBron James joining forces was something no one could have ever anticipated when ESPN reported that James signed a four-year deal to play for the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. James became the first domino to fall with a few others that would follow. The most surprising name added to the suddenly new-Lakers team is Lance Stephenson.
Lance Stephenson becoming a teammate of LeBron James is shocking due to the fact they have had a heated rivalry for years. Each time Stephenson has played against James, he finds a way to annoy him. It is as if Stephenson wants James to know that he will not back down.
USA Today carefully detailed the disdain between Stephenson and James. The fact that they have taken different paths to earn their NBA stripes gets taken for granted. The beginning of their feud tells the full story of how different things have been for them.
In the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals, Lance Stephenson was seen flashing the choke sign as LeBron James was missing a free throw. Stephenson and James were with the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat at the time. Stephenson was merely a little-used reserve. After that scene, Lance Stephenson would seek to pester LeBron James every chance he got. Things peaked during one playoff series when Stephenson inexplicably blew in James' ear.