Nat Newell, Jim Ayello, Mike Williams and Robby General

IndyStar

INDIANAPOLIS — His usual spot was waiting: an Indiana-shaped table in the middle of the restaurant.

And the fans were there, with a 25-minute wait to get in.

It was Tuesday night at the Hooters on Georgia Street and fans were there because a professional basketball player had invited the city of Indianapolis to join him after his first game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse as a Los Angeles Laker.

The entire situation defied description ... and nothing could better capture the relationship between and Lance Stephenson and Indianapolis.

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"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!"

And Lance Stephenson's fans knew he just might show up.

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.

Every table was filled, except Lance's. The Indiana-shaped table was empty with two Bud Light buckets filled with bottled water on ice, awaiting his arrival.

"We went to tonight's game to see Lance play again," said Zach Knopp, 19, of Greenfield, 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."

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 and Hooters started to empty.

But that's likely all that kept Stephenson, a professional basketball player making nearly $4.5 million, 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 moment:Lance Stephenson is back, and he wants you to meet him at Hooters

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A second-round pick who rarely got off the bench his first two seasons in Indianapolis, Stephenson stepped into the starting lineup in 2012-13 for an injured Danny Granger. Stephenson played a key roll for the Pacers teams that would lose to James and the Miami Heat in back-to-back Eastern Conference finals. He turned down a contract offer following the 2013-14 season, signed with Charlotte and struggled. Stephenson played for five teams over the next three seasons before, shockingly, returning to the Pacers late in the 2016-17 season and, perhaps even more shockingly, immediately re-establishing himself.

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, an IUPUI student. "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."