Rowan Kavner

LOS ANGELES – As J.J. Redick drilled a 3-pointer with seconds remaining in Detroit to tie the game, Lance Stephenson jumped up from the bench more ecstatically than anyone, whipping his arms around like a windmill and celebrating in a way only Stephenson could.

This all came on a night he never checked into the game.

It’s those types of actions from Stephenson, who averaged at least 25 minutes per game each of his last three seasons, which can endear a player to new teammates.

“He’s been great,” said Blake Griffin. “He didn’t play in Detroit, but he was energetic, cheering us on, talking to guys, being positive. That helps. I think that type of energy carries over.”

Griffin said it did that Wednesday night, when the Clippers won their third game in a row in a home contest against the Bucks.

Stephenson didn’t play the majority of the first quarter, yet Griffin saw his positivity on the bench. By the end of the first quarter, Stephenson got his first 47 seconds of action and produced two quick assists.

By the end of the half, Stephenson picked up four points, four assists, two rebounds and a steal in just nine minutes.

And, much like his Redick celebration, he did it in a way which makes Stephenson unique. With the ball in his hands, he’s a playmaker. He’s capable of threading the needle and making passes few others can. And when he makes a dish he likes, a celebration is sure to follow. He takes pleasure in finding teammates and seems to enjoy it just as much as any shot he makes himself.

That, more than anything, is something his teammates can get on board with. It makes him entertaining to watch, and it also picks up everyone around him.

“He’s always a high energy guy,” said Chris Paul. “The way he pushes the ball, I wish I pushed it like that. The good thing about Lance is he works hard and he wants to be great. Every time he plays, he’s not selfish. He wants to find the open man, and he’s a competitor.”

The key is harnessing all the talent and physical attributes that make Stephenson special, the ones that intrigued the Clippers enough to trade for him this offseason.

Consistency is always the trickiest part about being a high-energy and often daring and flashy player. Perhaps nothing emphasized that more than a sequence against the Bucks when Stephenson stepped in front of a pass and took it the other way for a dunk.

He was so amped up, he forgot which guy to guard at the other end, leading to two points.

“The dunk and the celebration and the missed assignment on the other end, we’ll live with it for now,” Griffin said with a smile. “I remember I said something to him right after that, and he didn’t even know he did it. But I love Lance. He wants to be good and he wants to be a team player, and he is, and he’s always looking to make guys better and distribute the ball. That’s the kind of guy you want to have on your team.”

It’s still going to be a work in progress as head coach Doc Rivers tries to figure out the best way and the right circumstances to use Stephenson. But as Rivers is figuring out, he said sometimes the best thing to do is laugh with him.

“At halftime, the guys were killing him,” Rivers said. “He gets a dunk off a steal, I said, ‘You can’t have a parade after every basket.’ He did that. But on the upside, he’s doing so many other things for us.

“I think our guys get him. He really wants to make plays. He doesn’t necessarily want to score. I think our guys are trying to get him the ball so he can get in transition more.”

The players joke with Stephenson, and he jokes back. Mention Lance’s name, and most players start to smile. Stephenson’s a quirky player, but his teammates are getting used to that both on and off the court, the former of course being most important.

And rather than complain about his minutes – Stephenson’s averaging 16.4 per game this month – he’s trying to enjoy the moment. Stephenson said it’s a great experience to be on the Clippers with the talent around him, and he wants to take full advantage and soak up as much as he can.

“We’ve got so many pieces,” Stephenson said. “Anybody can play at any time. When I get my jersey called, the main goal is to be ready and be prepared and do whatever it takes to help the team win. That’s what you’ve got to do to be a pro.”

With that in mind, he has no doubt he’ll find his place on the team.

“As the season goes on,” Stephenson said, “it’s going to get easier and easier.”