Past LeBron foe Stephenson joins Lakers

LOS ANGELES: Lance Stephenson (pic), who once blew in the left ear of LeBron James trying to disrupt the NBA superstar, signed a new contract to join James on the Los Angeles Lakers.

The 27-year-old American guard played for Indiana the past two seasons, each campaign ending with a first-round playoff loss to James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Stephenson has a history with James, including a choke sign to Miami’s bench after James missed a late free throw in a lopsided Indiana playoff win in 2012, trash talk and the ear-blow incident when Miami met Indiana in the 2014 Eastern Conference finals and striking James in the groin when the star drove to the hoop in a game last November.

“It’s actually funny that I’m actually on the same team as him. I’m very excited to see what that brings,” Stephenson said. “It’s going to be amazing.”

The deal, reportedly for one year at US$4.5mil (RM18.1mil), unites Stephenson with fellow Lakers free agent signings James, 2008 champion with Boston and four-time All-Star Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.