WASHINGTON (AP) -DeShawn Stevenson re-signed with the Washington Wizards on Monday, keeping Gilbert Arenas’ backcourt running mate and pal with the club.
“DeShawn plays a key role for us, and he fits in very well with our team,” Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld said. “He understands and has accepted his role. DeShawn is a hard-nosed competitor who wants to win.”
The team wouldn’t disclose terms of the deal, which was agreed to late last week. It’s reportedly worth $15 million over four years.
Stevenson averaged 11.2 points, 2.7 assists and 2.6 rebounds last season, his first with the Wizards. He was the only member of the team who played in all 82 regular-season games – starting each one – and averaged career highs in field-goal percentage (.461) and 3-point percentage (.404).
He and point guard Arenas developed a rapport on and off the court. After a practice last season, Arenas and Stevenson staged a 3-point shooting competition. A video of the contest drew hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube.
With Arenas and the club’s other All-Star, forward Caron Butler, out with injuries during the playoffs, more of the scoring burden fell to Stevenson. He shot 9-for-46 (.196) as Washington was swept in four games by Cleveland.
The 26-year-old Stevenson has averaged 8.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists over seven NBA seasons with Utah, Orlando and Washington.
After the 2005-06 season, Stevenson opted out of the final year of his contract with Orlando, hoping for a big payday. Instead, he wound up with a veteran’s minimum salary of $932,000 from the Wizards last season.
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