Hornets' Clifford on Lance Stephenson: 'He's not a star'

Lance Stephenson's Hornets career hasn't exactly started with a bang.

Stephenson, who is averaging 9.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists in his debut season in Charlotte, is shooting just 36 percent from the field and a ghastly 20 percent from 3-point range.

Against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, Stephenson watched the entire fourth quarter from the bench for a second consecutive game, as the Hornets lost a seventh straight game to fall to 4-12 on the season.

After signing a three-year, $27 million contract with the Hornets following a breakout season with the East-leading Indiana Pacers last year, more was expected of the youngster dubbed Born Ready. Perhaps too much, according to Hornets head coach Steve Clifford.

"To be fair, one of the things that's made it more difficult for him is that he came here and people proclaimed him as the next superstar," Clifford said after Wednesday's loss, as reported by ESPN's Michael Wallace. "He's not a star. He's a guy that has talent to become a star. To be a star in this league, you have to do it over years."

Clifford also suggested playing in the spotlight may have inflated Stephenson's status. 

"He started two years before he got here. He played on a really good team, so everybody saw him play when no one else was playing," the coach said. "When Al Jefferson came here, he'd (averaged) 19 (points) and eight (rebounds) for like 10 years. You knew what you were going to get. And that's what Lance needs to become. In many ways it's not fair."

For his part, Stephenson simply said it's the coach's decision whether to play him in the fourth quarter or not.

"I just need to work harder," Stephenson said. "Hopefully we can get through it and Coach can figure out what we need to do to win games."

The Hornets are back in action Friday against the 12-2 Golden State Warriors.