Terrific 12: Lance Stephenson downplays skirmish with TNT’s David Semerad

MACAU—In his days in the NBA, Lance Stephenson had gone under the skin of several players most especially four-time MVP LeBron James.

Now that he’s playing for Liaoning in the Chinese Basketball Association, Stephenson remains a character, getting into a tussle in just his first game with his new club in the East Asia Super League: The Terrific 12.

The former Los Angeles Laker and David Semerad of TNT, one of the three Filipino teams invited to play here, got into a tussle late in the third quarter of Flying Leopards’ 96-91 win.

READ: Terrific 12: TNT falls to Lance Stephenson, Liaoning in tight game

“It’s just part of the game, we played hard and aggressive and they [the KaTropa] tried to stop me and do whatever it takes,” said Stephenson after the game at Tap Seac Sports Pavilion. “I wasn’t mad with it.”

Cooler heads prevailed with game officials separating the two but Stephenson and Semerad were both given technical fouls.

Stephenson put up 31 points, six rebounds, and eight assists in his debut.

“I just played smart tonight and I thought he wanted to hurt me,” said Stephenson. “It’s just basketball and I’m having fun and I’m happy we won the game.”