Stephenson answers call

Sports shorts

Lance Stephenson always felt his famed rivalry with LeBron James was rooted in mutual respect.

When James called Stephenson last week to pitch him on teaming up with the Los Angeles Lakers, Stephenson’s feelings were confirmed and he quickly accepted the invitation.

The Lakers formally announced the signings of Stephenson, center JaVale McGee and second-round draft pick Svi Mykhailiuk on Tuesday.

Coming off a productive season in his latest stint with the Indiana Pacers, Stephenson agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million deal to join James, McGee and Rajon Rondo in the Lakers’ influx of veteran talent.

Stephenson has been one of James’ most famed antagonists during their careers, and even Stephenson is surprised they’ve become teammates. But it only took a phone call from LeBron to persuade Stephenson to join the Lakers.

“I was actually surprised he made the move to LA,” Stephenson said. “I guess he needed a new look.”

ROBERTS RE-ELECTED » Michele Roberts was unanimously re-elected Tuesday to another fouryear term as executive director of the National Basketball Players Association.

Roberts first moved into the role in 2014, about two years before the players and the league agreed on the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The extension means that Roberts will almost certainly be deeply involved in negotiating whatever the next CBA will look like.

“She has been nothing short of amazing,” union president Chris Paul of the Houston Rockets said.

The union was without an executive director for more than a year before Roberts got the job, and she said overcoming the skepticism of players who were reeling after the way Billy Hunter’s term as director came to a turbulent end was critical to her success.

NFL

MCCOY ACCUSED » Police acknowledged Tuesday that a woman was assaulted during a home invasion at a suburban Atlanta house owned by NFL star LeSean McCoy, hours after graphic posts on social media accused the Buffalo Bills running back of bloodying his former girlfriend.

One female was treated and released from the hospital, while another sustained a minor injury during a targeted invasion early Tuesday, Milton police said in a release responding to requests by The Associated Press.

McCoy denied allegations posted on social media earlier in the day accusing him of hurting his former girlfriend.

“For the record, the totally baseless and offensive claims made against me today on social media are completely false,” McCoy said in a released statement released on two of his social media accounts. “Further more, I have not had any direct contact with any of the people involved in months.”