“I never went to him and asked for help” – Lance Stephenson opens up about missed opportunity to learn from Michael Jordan in Charlotte originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Following a standout performance in the 2013-14 season with the Indiana Pacers, Lance Stephenson attracted attention from several teams during the free agency period. After surveying the market, he eventually inked a three-year, $27 million deal to play for the Charlotte Hornets.
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At the time, the Hornets believed they had acquired a player who would help them take the next step in the Eastern Conference after the Miami Heat swept them in the previous season. Unfortunately, that wouldn’t be the case as Lance put up a dud during the 2014-15 season, averaging only 8.2 points on an abysmal 37 percent shooting clip, including 17 percent from long range.
Reflecting on the experience a decade later, Lance shared how he regretted not seeking guidance and advice from the GOAT, Michael Jordan, during his stint with the Hornets. He believes that if he had reached out to MJ, things might have turned out differently for him.
His biggest regret
Many expected big things from Stephenson when he signed with Charlotte. Before that season, he broke out for the Pacers. He averaged 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game and helped lead the team to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they fell to LeBron James and the Heat.
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But more than the numbers, Lance showed toughness and grit against the Heat’s “Big 3,” refusing to back down and even blowing in LeBron’s ear during one game. It was a memorable moment that solidified his reputation as a fierce competitor.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t conjure the same success with the Hornets. He struggled to find his footing and adjust to a new system. More than anything, he regretted not going to Jordan, who was the team’s owner, for help with his on-court struggles.
“I’m not going to lie. That’s the only year I regret. I felt like I didn’t use all the tools that I had around me at that moment to be the best player I could be,” Lance said on the “7PM in Brooklyn” podcast. “Because I had Michael Jordan right there. And I didn’t go to him. I never went to him and said, ‘Yo, can you help me with this? Can you do this? Can you do that?'”
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Lance’s fire cooled off once he got paid
For professional athletes, money can be a double-edged sword. History has shown that some players lose their hunger and drive once they sign a big contract. This was the case for Lance with the Hornets after his breakout year with the Pacers. With the security of a lucrative contract, his motivation seemed to disappear. He became complacent and his performance on the court suffered as a result.
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“I told you I got paid, right? And I’m telling you, like, that hunger kind of — I ain’t gonna lie — it kind of dumbed down a little bit,” Stephenson candidly admitted.
At that point, Lance should have gone to MJ, who showed throughout his career that no amount of money could quench his thirst for success.
“That’s the only year I regret. Like, I ain’t really get to build that relationship with MJ,” Lance shared. “That’s why I regret that. I felt like I should have come to him like, ‘Yo’ — ’cause that’s MJ.”
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“I still wear his shoes to this day. Like, every day. And I felt like I should have went to the — ‘Yo, help me with this. What did you do? Like, how can I better my game?'” he continued.
Stephenson’s breakout season with the Pacers in 2014 ultimately became the pinnacle of his career. In June 2015, the Hornets traded him to the Los Angeles Clippers. Unfortunately, his career was marred by a series of injuries, resulting in frequent team changes. Stephenson played his final NBA game in 2022 in Indianapolis.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 23, 2025, where it first appeared.