Lance Stephenson says he was ‘humbled’ by experience with Hornets

Lance Stephenson says he was "humbled" by his experience with the Charlotte Hornets, and that it "hurt" to be traded after only one season.

Los Angeles Clippers guard Lance Stephensonsays he was "humbled" by his experience in Charlotte and was "hurt" when he found out he had been traded after only one season with the team.

In a wide-ranging interview with Bleacher Report's Jared Zwerling, Stephenson opened up about his brief time with the Hornets.

Stephenson said that Hornets owner Michael Jordan told him to stay positive, but that it hurt when he was traded in June. 

“I felt like I could've done more for the organization,” Stephenson told Zwerling. “I felt like we had pieces, and we just couldn't get over that hump. There were a lot of injuries, a lot of things that just held us back from having a successful season.”

Stephenson said that his disappointing with the Hornets was a humbling experience. 

Stephenson said he heard about his trade to the Clippers while working out in Las Vegas and everyone in the gym said he had been traded. As for his role on his new team, Stephenson told Zwerling "it doesn't matter" if he starts or comes off the bench "because it's all about winning."

Stephenson averaged 8.2 points per game on 37.6% shooting last season. He was at his best in 2013-14, when he averaged a career-high 13.8 points per game on 49.1% shooting with the Pacers. He also averaged more than seven rebounds and four assists per game that season. 

The Hornets signed Stephenson in 2014 to a three-year, $27 million deal with a team option on the third season. 

- Rohan Nadkarni