For a guy who wore a Pacers uniform for just four seasons, and played in just 210 games, Lance Stephenson left quite an impression.

By being drafted after one season at Cincinnati. By being immature and turning off some of his teammates in the early years. By flashing LeBron James the choke sign from the bench after a missed free throw in the playoffs. By working hard, getting better and winning over his teammates. By becoming a starter, and occasionally a star who churned out a league-high five triple-doubles last season. By creating and starring in YouTube videos. By dramatically flopping to try to draw fouls. By getting called for technical fouls at inopportune times. By blowing in LeBron's ear during a playoff game. And, of course, by leaving for Charlotte's slightly better but shorter-term contract offer.

Stephenson returns to the scene of so many of his good times and crimes on Wednesday, when the Pacers meet Charlotte in Bankers Life Fieldhouse. It's a matchup of two 4-7 teams, but beneath the surface it promises to be one of the most intriguing games of the season. Thanks, of course, to Stephenson, who has a way of making things interesting.

PHOTOS: Lance Stephenson's Final Season in Indiana » Lance's First Year in Charlotte »

Despite all the controversies that grew from his time with, and departure, from the Pacers, all parties involved express nothing but respect. Lance likes the Pacers. The Pacers like Lance. No hard feelings. Just business. And life.

Stephenson shared some brief thoughts with the Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell following practice on Tuesday, before the Hornets departed for Indianapolis.

“It’s going to be different, but it’s going to be fun,” he said. “I’m very excited. Happy to be going home. Well, not home, but Indiana, to see where I really grew up and learned the NBA basketball game. It will be fun to see all the fans.”

Who does he stay in touch with?

“Paul, Roy, George Hill. We talk a lot.”

What will you remember most about your time in Indiana?

“How much fun we had and the fans. I was really into it with the fans. They really believed in me and we connected. I had a real connection with the fans.”

How was your relationship with Larry Bird?

“We were real close. He’d help me out through the season. He was a great role model. Without him I wouldn’t be as good as I am right now. He helped me learn the game quicker.”

Simple as that.

The Pacers, meanwhile, are of a similar mindset. Nobody is stoking flames to build a fire – most likely because they're feeling no heat toward their former teammate, and also probably because they realize Stephenson's fire burns regardless.

Roy Hibbert, one of those closest to Stephenson during his time with the Pacers, and one who joined him for dinner the night before they played at Charlotte during the preseason (a game Stephenson sat out), offered a joke when asked if he's keeping in touch.

“Every now and then I see one of his flops and I want to text him,” Hibbert said. “But I know he has a lot on his mind and we text every now and then. We don't stay in touch like we usually do, but I'm happy for him.”

Ah, the flops. Stephenson executed a few Oscar-worthy performances as a Pacer last season, but took the art to a new level in a game against Golden State last Saturday, when he slapped himself in the face, fell and drew a foul from Harrison Barnes. That one play pretty well summarizes Stephenson. You can love him or hate him for it, but you can't ignore him.

Most of his former Pacers teammates find humor in his approach, and focus more on his contributions to last season's run to the Eastern Conference finals.

“We all know about his antics, but he was just an amazing talent, honestly,” Chris Copeland said. “He brought a lot to us from an energy standpoint. I always respected him as a player and learned a lot from him last year.”

That was last year, though. Stephenson's flop and his banked, 25-foot game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer against Atlanta on Nov. 7 have been the highlights of an otherwise disappointing debut with the Hornets. He's averaging 9.5 points while shooting 38 percent from the field and 25 percent from the three-point line, a dropoff from last season with the Pacers when he averaged 13.8 points and shot 49 percent and 35 percent. He is rebounding better (9.2) and passing out more assists (5.3) than last season, while playing one fewer minute per game.

So far, his addition hasn't brought the improvement the Hornets were seeking in the off-season, as they looked to improve on last season's 43-39 record. Meanwhile, it's difficult to tell whether his absence has hurt the Pacers. Their 4-7 record is widely viewed as impressive given all their injuries, and hardly the mark of an underachieving team. Their chemistry has generally been good and their effort commendable.

Coach Frank Vogel was asked Monday if there have been times this season he's wished he still had Stephenson.

“Not really, honestly,” he said. “I love Lance more than anybody, but I don't focus on guys who aren't here. I focus on the guys who are here and make the best of it.”

Vogel said following Tuesday's practice that he expects Stephenson to be on his best behavior. Monday, however, he allowed for the possibility of some extracurricular activities.

“Who knows? Maybe,” he said. “He likes to have fun on the basketball court; that's something we always loved about him – how much he enjoys the game of basketball and his interaction with the fans. With Lance, the motto is always 'expect the unexpected.' We'll see.”

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