Pacers coach Nate McMillan says Lance Stephenson will start the season as the sixth man
Stephenson to come off the bench
Pacers head coach Nate McMillan said that Lance Stephenson will be the Sixth Man this upcoming season.
Per Indiana Pacers official website, Coach Nate McMillan said he has a starting lineup in mind heading into training camp, but wouldn't reveal it. He did acknowledge, however, that Lance Stephenson likely will start the season as the sixth man.
Stephenson likely will play starter minutes, but his versatility and energy makes him a logical candidate for playing off the bench.
"I hope he can establish (that role)," McMillan said. "A sixth man is like a starter, and he can be a guy who can do a lot of things with that second group with his ability to handle the ball, score the ball. He's an unselfish player."
Stephenson, who revitalized the Pacers with five remaining games last season, has a chance to revitalize his career this season. He left the Pacers in 2014 as a free agent, but failed to latch on with Charlotte, the Clippers, Memphis or New Orleans. He also played with Minnesota last season, but an injury led to him being released and made him available to the Pacers after Stuckey was injured.
"I expect the maturity to show in his game," McMillan said. "There have been several teams that gave up on him. He gets another opportunity to come back to Indiana where he's had a lot of success. But he still has something to prove."
Per Indiana Pacers official website, Coach Nate McMillan said he has a starting lineup in mind heading into training camp, but wouldn't reveal it. He did acknowledge, however, that Lance Stephenson likely will start the season as the sixth man.
Stephenson likely will play starter minutes, but his versatility and energy makes him a logical candidate for playing off the bench.
"I hope he can establish (that role)," McMillan said. "A sixth man is like a starter, and he can be a guy who can do a lot of things with that second group with his ability to handle the ball, score the ball. He's an unselfish player."
Stephenson, who revitalized the Pacers with five remaining games last season, has a chance to revitalize his career this season. He left the Pacers in 2014 as a free agent, but failed to latch on with Charlotte, the Clippers, Memphis or New Orleans. He also played with Minnesota last season, but an injury led to him being released and made him available to the Pacers after Stuckey was injured.
"I expect the maturity to show in his game," McMillan said. "There have been several teams that gave up on him. He gets another opportunity to come back to Indiana where he's had a lot of success. But he still has something to prove."
E. Carchia
@Sportando
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