Lance Stephenson has been working on a jump shot
By Bryan Rose
When you think of the skills that Lance Stephenson possesses, a reliable jumper is not near the top of the list.
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That’s something the Charlotte Hornets’ big offseason prize is aiming to change though as according to NBA.com, Stephenson has been working out religiously this offseason in effort to add a jump shot to his game.
Stephenson, who most recently played for the Indiana Pacers, struggled to find a home during free agency thanks to his on-court antics though the Hornets, in need of a ‘star’ decided to take the plunge. Will it pay off? At this point such remains to be seen though Lance Stephenson is certainly saying and doing all the right things.
“I’ve worked a lot on my body, my conditioning,” said Stephenson. “Jump shots, defense, and just being consistent.”
A premier defender, Lance Stephenson’s reputation has been built around tough-nosed defense and inside scoring off the break. For his career, he’s been a woefully bad shooter, especially last season where he shot under 30 percent from 10 to 16 feet. Needless to say, if you’re going to take the next step as a shooting guard and/or small forward, you need to be more effective with your shot.
Of course, if Lance Stephenson is to add a reliable jumper to his game, it’ll essentially make him into a two-way player and that could prove to be a steal for the Charlotte Hornets if they can keep Stephenson’s head on straight.
The Hornets are expected to make Stephenson (along with Al Jefferson) the focal points of their offense.