Charlotte Hornets star Lance Stephenson has insisted that he will come back a more confident player next year after struggling with his new team this season.
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Stephenson signed a three-year deal with the franchise worth $27m last summer but ultimately it didn’t work out for either him or the team.
The former Indiana Pacers star shot just 17.3 percent from 3-point range this season and that mark was the worst in NBA history among players who attempted at least 100 3-pointers in a season.
“That is terrible,” Stephenson said, ESPN reports.
“I just wanted to make the shot so bad and when it doesn’t go in you just lose your confidence. That plays a major part when you don’t have confidence in your shot. This summer I am going to find my confidence and come in a better player.”
The Hornets ended the year with a 33-49 record which was bitterly disappointing for them after going to the playoffs last year and believing that they could build on that this season.
With Stephenson added to the roster alongside the likes of Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson, expectations were high but ultimately they were unable to deliver as the 24-year-old lost his spot in the starting line-up under coach Steve Clifford early on.
Jefferson has since insisted that he doesn’t plan on opting out of his contract with the Hornets this summer, and so they will remain as they are with a few tweaks in the off-season to improve their quality and depth.
Whether or not Stephenson can turn things around next year remains to be seen, but it is clear that he feels he owes the organisation a lot more and will be working hard over the summer to ensure that he regains the confidence in his shot and can play a vital role for the team to progress in the next two years.
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