Report: Stephenson Beat Girlfriend For Not Answering Calls

Lance Stephenson

Indiana Pacers draft pick Lance Stephenson allegedly threw his girlfriend, Jasmine Williams, down the stairs and "slammed" her head into the bottom stair because she wouldn't pick up her phone while she was apparently on a girls' night out. A friend of Williams's dad told the Daily News, "He was calling her cell phone, she wasn't answering. This wasn't the first time this happened...The father spoke to [Stephenson's] parents before. They said, 'We aren't going to call the cops and mess up his career but this has to stop. Enough is enough.'"

Stephenson allegedly ambushed Williams as she returned to her Brooklyn apartment with two friends, but the rookie's lawyer said, "Mr. Stephenson did not maliciously, intentionally or in any other way cause harm to Jasmine Williams. Everyone, especially Lance, regrets that this incident occurred." The Coney Island native was originally a first round NBA draft pick, but got knocked down to second round due to a 2008 bust for sexually abusing a 17-year-old girl.

Pacers President Larry Bird said the team will "deal appropriately" with Stephenson, and said, "Lance should not have put himself in the position he was in early Sunday. We have consistently emphasized to our players the importance of not putting themselves in situations where bad things can happen." Stephenson recently signed a three-year contract with the team, which reportedly guarantees him $700,000 the first year. Stephenson has been released without bail, and Williams, the mother of their child, is still in pain and wearing a neck brace.

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By Jaya Saxena in News on August 17, 2010 10:24 AM

Comments [rss]

Mordicai

If only he hadn't put himself in a position where she forced him to beat her up. Larry Bird is right, I'm disappointed in this guy for letting her trick him like this. How could he let himself accidentally stumble into an innocent mess like this! Larry Bird you utter piece of crap. Oh & Stephenson, you utter piece of abusive crap. You especially-- thinking that Bird is a prick for saying that pales behind the fact that you did it. You weren't put in a "situation." You are a violent criminal. Full stop.

Amalek

I realize he's not in it yet, but this is yet another reason to hate the NBA and boycott its games. Too many thugz making too much money for playing with balls and infecting too many young minds with their poison.

Stevennnn

I have to agree with you. Without sports most of the players would have been career criminals.

Jared

So, the father knew about PREVIOUS abuse against his daughter and he didn't do anything about it besides talk to Stephenson's PARENTS? Shame on him. If my sisters were in ANY kind of man-trouble, police would not be needed, not at least until the body was found. Frankly, why do women even date athletes? They won't be faithful and there is a high chance they will abuse you. I guess a new Fendi bag is worth it...

eflash

We have consistently emphasized to our players the importance of not putting themselves in situations where bad things can happen...

turns out the use of passive voice can be as bad as my english teachers always said. in this case it's criminal.

maryjr

That whole statement is so disturbing. In other words, he should have chosen a more obedient girlfriend thereby avoiding a bad situation of having to teach her a lesson?

GREGORYABUTLER

Stephenson is a product of Lincoln High School, a notorious "basketball factory" who's ballplayers don't go to class and have a bloated sense of entitlement (think Stephon Marbury). This goon is an example of that.

I hope he spends a few months in the joint - then he'll know first hand what it's like to be a battered girlfriend. Perhaps that will improve his mentality once he comes home.

airtech1

Bloated sense of entitlement? That's to put it mildly.

It's a thug-factory. Stephenson needs to go to Celeb Bootcamp with Kim Jong Il.

virjin

he will just learn how to hit harder. once a woman beater, always a P.O.S.

schadenfreudian mensch

Trust me when I say all this will be water under the bridge and swept under when the next round of draft picks. Teams could care less as long as he's dunk those balls.