Hooters held his favorite table, but Lance Stephenson was a no-show
INDIANAPOLIS — His usual spot was waiting: an Indiana-shaped table in the middle of Hooters.
And the fans were there, with a 25-minute wait to get in.
It was Tuesday night and fans were there because former Indiana Pacers forward Lance Stephenson had invited the city of -Indianapolis to join him after his first game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse as a Los Angeles Laker.
"And I'm definitely going to go to Hooters after the game," Stephenson said with a laugh during the Los Angles Lakers' shootaround Tuesday morning. "Definitely looking forward to that. Everyone meet me at Hooters after the game!"
Alas, Stephenson couldn't make it. He scored 13 points in 28 minutes but the Lakers changed travel plans after getting blown out by the Pacers, 136-94, flying out Tuesday night. By 10:30, the word had gotten out.
But before Hooters started to empty, every table was filled.
People in Pacers' jerseys, including a few wearing the Nos. 6 and 1 that Stephenson wore during his two stops in Indiana, and Lakers apparel began to fill the restaurant at 9:30 p.m. By 10, it was packed. General manager Zach McCrady compared it to a Saturday night.
"We went to tonight's game to see Lance play again," said Zach Knopp, 19, who was wearing a No. 1 Stephenson jersey. "We saw a tweet (that Stephenson would be at Hooters) and decided that would be dinner tonight."
The change in the Lakers' travel plans likely was all that kept Stephenson from going to one of his favorite restaurants after inviting his fans to join him.
It's the same Stephenson who became a fan favorite, not for his production — he averaged a solid 9.1 points in parts of six seasons with the Pacers — but for daring to take on LeBron James (now his teammate with the Lakers) one moment then celebrating a big play by playing air guitar the next.
"People give him (grief) because he doesn't put up a (lot) of points every night but he doesn't need to. You know what I mean?" said Spencer Ostrega, 21, who had hoped to get Stephenson's autograph. "The atmosphere that he brings, he is just an amazing player and he makes everybody around him better."
The Pacers didn't pick up his option after last season but Lance still loves Indianapolis and Indianapolis still loves Lance.
He drew an ovation when he checked in Tuesday night ... and a crowd at Hooters.
"I wanted to pay my respects to him," said Wes Compton, 20. "He's done a lot for the city and for me personally, too. He's given me a lot of entertainment. I played soccer in high school and I wore (a) No. 1 jersey because of him. He's a big role model for me.
"I just love how that man plays, his passion and everything."