Fansided

Lance Stephenson joining LeBron James on Lakers is too good to be true, but it is

By Jeremy Lambert

MIAMI, FL - MAY 30: LeBron James No. 6 of the Miami Heat and Lance Stephenson No. 1 of the Indiana Pacers match up during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena on May 30, 2014 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - MAY 30: LeBron James No. 6 of the Miami Heat and Lance Stephenson No. 1 of the Indiana Pacers match up during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena on May 30, 2014 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Lance Stephenson joining LeBron James in Los Angeles is everything any basketball fan could ever want in life.

LeBron James signing with the Los Angeles Lakers is cool and all. But Lance Stephenson and LeBron being on the same team is what we’re really here for.

If you’re not excited about these two finally teaming up to take on the rest of the NBA, I can’t help you. Forget every other rivalry in sports. LeBron vs. Lance has been the best (and most lopsided) one-on-one rivalry in the last decade. It gave us this:

Prior to J.R. Smith forgetting the score of a Finals game, that was the most iconic non-basketball, basketball meme.

LeBron has always needed a teammate who he can take his frustrations out on. It was Smith in Cleveland the second time, Mario Chalmers in Miami, and every other player in Cleveland the first time. It’s like a personal goal of his to link up with frequent Shaqtin’ A Fool nominees to see if he can carry them to the Finals.

Spoiler alert: He can.

Let me not be too harsh on Lance. He averaged 9.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 82 regular season games for the Pacers last season. He helped push James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the first round of the playoffs. He came up short, like he always does against LeBron, but he’s a guy who never shies away from the moment.

Next: NBA Free Agency 2018 Tracker: Latest rumors, trades and signings

This is likely just the first of many moves from the Lakers following LeBron’s announcement. That young Lakers roster looked so promising at the end of last season. LeBron didn’t sign to play with promising talent that might be a year or two away. He wants guys who can help him compete tomorrow. And there’s only one guy who is “born ready” to compete at all times.

Home/Los Angeles Lakers