High praise from the Mavs Rick Carlisle for DeShawn Stevenson. "So, I guess I’d call him the ultimate pro. And I can’t think of a higher compliment for a player. … "He’s very consistent and he brings a real strong presence to the locker room."

Andy Vasquez heard much the same thing from those who've played with Stevenson in Dallas ("He’s a great teammate," said Shawn Marion) and are learning from him in New Jersey ("I just try to listen to guys that have been around, like DeShawn," said MarShon Brooks).

And lest anyone forget what he can do, it was Stevenson who slowed LeBron James to a crawl in the Finals and hit three three-pointers help seal the title in Game 6.

• Stevenson playing role to perfection - Andy Vasquez - NJ Nets Nation