Lamar Stevens

Last updated

Lamar Stevens
Lamar Stevens, Wizards vs Cavaliers on December 30, 2021.jpg
Stevens with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2021
No. 24–Memphis Grizzlies
Position Small forward / power forward
League NBA
Personal information
Born (1997-07-09) July 9, 1997 (age 26)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school
College Penn State (2016–2020)
NBA draft 2020: undrafted
Playing career2020–present
Career history
2020–2023 Cleveland Cavaliers
2023–2024 Boston Celtics
2024–present Memphis Grizzlies
Career highlights and awards
Stats   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg at NBA.com
Stats   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg at Basketball-Reference.com

Lamar Brandon Stevens (born July 9, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Contents

High school career

Stevens attended The Haverford School in Haverford Township, Pennsylvania for his sophomore and junior years. At Haverford, he was named to All-State and All-District teams both years, as well as leading Haverford to two straight state championship runs. During his senior season he attended Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia where he played alongside future Penn State teammates, Tony Carr and Nazeer Bostick. During his senior year, Stevens was once again named to All-State and All-District teams, as well as All-Philadelphia. Roman Catholic dominated all season, ranking Number 1 in Pennsylvania and top 15 nationally, according to MaxPreps. Stevens scored 20 points on the way to winning the state championship game.

Recruiting

After the season, Stevens was ranked 100th on the ESPN's Top 100 recruits of 2016 and third-ranked overall in Pennsylvania.

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
NameHometownHigh school / collegeHeightWeightCommit date
Lamar Stevens
SF 		Philadelphia, PA Roman Catholic (PA)6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)215 lb (98 kg)Sep 18, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: 5 stars.svg     Rivals: 4 stars.svg     247Sports: 4 stars.svg     ESPN: 4 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 80
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2016 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.
Honors and Awards

College career

Stevens with Penn State in 2017 Lamar Stevens.jpg
Stevens with Penn State in 2017

During Stevens' freshman season at Penn State, he started all 33 games for the Nittany Lions and was named Freshman of the Week multiple times with teammate Tony Carr. He was named as a First Team All-Freshman by the Big Ten and averaged over 12 points per game his first season. [1] [2] [3]

Stevens scored a season-high 30 points on January 5, 2018, against Northwestern. [4] As a sophomore, Stevens averaged 15.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He helped the Nittany Lions post a 26–13 record and win the NIT. Stevens was named Most Outstanding Player of the NIT. [5]

As a junior, Stevens averaged 19.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. He was named All-Big Ten Conference first-team accolades by the media and second-team honors from the league’s coaches. Stevens was an All-District VII second-team selection by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. [6] After the season, Stevens declared for the 2019 NBA draft but decided to return to Penn State. [7]

On December 16, 2019, Stevens was named Big Ten player of the week after scoring 18 points and collecting 11 rebounds in a victory over fourth-ranked and previously undefeated Maryland. [8] On February 1, 2020, Stevens became the third player in school history to surpass 2,000 career points, scoring 13 points in a 76–64 win against Nebraska. [9] He scored a career-high 33 points on February 8, leading the Nittany Lions to a 83–77 win over Minnesota. [10] At the close of the regular season, Stevens was named to the First Team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media. [11]

Stevens finished his college career as Penn State's second all-time leading scorer with 2,207 points, seven shy of breaking the scoring record set by Talor Battle. [12] Stevens missed out on an opportunity to set the record when the 2020 Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professional career

Cleveland Cavaliers (2020–2023)

After going undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft, Stevens was signed by the Cleveland Cavaliers to a two-way contract on November 28, 2020. [13] [14] He made his NBA debut on December 28, 2020, in a 118–94 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. He scored two points and collected two rebounds in five minutes of action. [15] On February 23, 2021, he scored eight points, including a game-winner, in a 112–111 win over the Atlanta Hawks [16] and on April 14, he signed a multi-year contract with the Cavaliers. [16] On January 12, 2022, Stevens scored a career and game high of 23 points in a 111-91 win over the Utah Jazz. [17]

On July 6, 2023, Stevens was traded to the San Antonio Spurs as part of a three-team trade with the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers, [18] and on July 17, he was waived. [19]

Boston Celtics (2023–2024)

On September 26, 2023, Stevens signed with the Boston Celtics. [20] He appeared in 19 of 50 games with the Celtics, averaging 2.8 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. [21] Due to a rash of injuries at the center position, Stevens entered the Celtics' starting lineup for the first and only time on December 15, 2023, logging 8 points and 3 rebounds in a 128-111 victory over the Orlando Magic. [22]

Memphis Grizzlies (2024–present)

On February 7, 2024, the Celtics traded Stevens and two second-round picks to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Xavier Tillman. [23]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

NBA

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2020–21 Cleveland 40012.5.456.160.7252.4.6.4.34.1
2021–22 Cleveland 631316.1.489.277.7072.6.7.5.36.1
2022–23 Cleveland 622518.1.448.316.7023.3.5.4.35.3
2023–24 Boston 1916.4.467.375.7271.6.4.3.32.8
2023–24 Memphis 19223.0.446.289.7915.11.1.9.911.5
Career2034115.7.463.286.7262.9.6.5.45.7

Play-in

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2022 Cleveland 106.5.667–1.000.0.0.0.07.0
Career106.5.667–1.000.0.0.0.07.0

Playoffs

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2023 Cleveland 204.4.5001.0001.0001.5.0.0.02.5
Career204.4.5001.0001.0001.5.0.0.02.5

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2016–17 Penn State 333327.8.429.344.7675.51.7.8.612.7
2017–18 Penn State 393933.1.465.319.6965.91.9.61.115.5
2018–19 Penn State 323236.9.422.220.7707.72.1.7.819.9
2019–20 Penn State 313131.1.423.263.7196.92.21.11.217.6
Career13513532.2.435.276.7386.51.9.8.916.3

Personal life

Stevens is the author of the children's book "Lamar's Climb -- A Journey to Happy Valley." The book, which teaches geography based on his experience and involves people with special needs in the creative process, was distributed at Penn State games. [24]

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References

  1. ↑ "Penn State beats Nebraska, 76–67, in the Big Ten tournament: recap, final stats, photos". PennLive.com. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Michigan State thrashes Penn State to open Big Ten Tournament". MLive.com. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  3. ↑ "'Grown up' Michigan State destroys Penn State in Big Ten tournament". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  4. ↑ Gery, Ryne (January 6, 2018). "Penn State's Lamar Stevens makes statement as one of Big Ten's best hybrid forwards". Centre Daily Times . Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  5. ↑ Hunt, Donald (October 19, 2018). "Lamar Stevens named to Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award". The Philadelphia Tribune . Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Men's basketball's Lamar Stevens named to 2019-20 preseason All-Big Ten Team". Penn State University . October 2, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  7. ↑ McGonigal, John (May 29, 2019). "Penn State basketball star Lamar Stevens withdraws name from NBA draft, returns to Nittany Lions". Centre Daily Times . Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Illinois, Indiana and Penn State Claim Weekly Men's Basketball Honors". Bigten.org. CBS Interactive. December 16, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  9. ↑ Donohue, Tyler (February 1, 2020). "Stevens, Watkins reach milestones in 4th straight Lions win". 247Sports.com . Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Stevens' leads No. 22 Penn State over Minnesota". ESPN . Associated Press. February 8, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Big Ten Unveils Men's Basketball Postseason Honors on BTN" (Press release). Big Ten Conference. March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Penn State Men's Basketball Leaders & Records - Career". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  13. ↑ clemgold (November 28, 2020). "Cavaliers Sign Lamar Stevens to Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  14. ↑ Brennan, Mark (November 18, 2020). "PSU's Stevens not taken in 2020 NBA Draft, signs free-agent deal". 247sports.com. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  15. ↑ Donohue, Tyler (December 28, 2020). "Former Penn State star Lamar Stevens scores in NBA debut". 247sports.com. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  16. 1 2 clejsykes (April 14, 2021). "Cavaliers Sign Lamar Stevens to Multi-Year Contract". NBA.com. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Cavaliers 111-91 Jazz (Jan 12, 2022) Final Score". ESPN.
  18. ↑ sasmpolk (July 6, 2023). "SAN ANTONIO COMPLETES THREE-TEAM TRADE WITH CLEVELAND AND MIAMI". NBA.com. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  19. ↑ saspshirley (July 17, 2023). "SPURS WAIVE LAMAR STEVENS". NBA.com. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Boston Celtics Sign Stevens". NBA.com. September 26, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Lamar Stevens Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  22. ↑ Weiss, Jared. "Without their centers, Celtics' bench speeds past Magic for 'biggest game of the year'". The Athletic. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Memphis Grizzlies complete trade with Boston Celtics". NBA.com. February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  24. ↑ Lingerman, Matt (February 7, 2020). "'A man for others': Lamar Stevens' children's book epitomizes his career with Penn State men's basketball". The Daily Collegian . Retrieved February 9, 2020.
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