MACAU — Lance Stephenson and KJ McDaniels, two former National Basketball Association (NBA) players who are still on their prime, are taking a long, different route in their bid to return to the big stage.

The Brooklyn native Stephenson is playing for China’s Liaoning Flying Leopards here while McDaniels, a product of Clemson, is suiting up for the TNT KaTropa of the Philippines in this tough East Asia Super League Terrific 12 invitational tournament.

On Tuesday night, the two faced off with the 29-year old Stephenson getting the victory over McDaniels, 96-91, as the nine-year NBA veteran dishing out 31 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.

And plus, of course, the antics he’s known for, the air-guitar celebration after a converted three-point shot and the no-look passes to the delight of Filipino overseas workers who filled the venue.

Stephenson and McDaniels are young enough playing outside the NBA but the opportunity presented to them makes them to work harder as they know anytime, a call up from any NBA team will always be there.

“I feel like the whole team welcoming me to the team and helping out with the plays even though they don’t know English as much. We still know how to communicate and we’re going to learn each other more,” said Stephenson, who signed a one-year $4-million deal with the Flying Leopards last August.

“I’m having fun. This is just our first game together as a team. It’s kinda tough getting to know each other. But as we go forward, we’ll get to know each other more,” the former Cincinnati standout added who last played for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Stephenson was not the only ex-NBA player in the squad as Liaoning also signed up former Dallas Mavericks and Tunisia center Salah Mejri, who contributed 22 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks against the KaTropa.

While Stephenson continues to play the role he used to in the NBA, it’s complete different for the 24-year old McDaniels, who had 32 points in an almost 40 minutes of action with TNT.

“It’s a new experience for me playing the four and five. I’ll learn from it. I’m still a student of the game,” said the six-foot-six McDaniels, who took turns with McKenzie Moore in playing the center spot against the Flying Leopards.

The five-year NBA veteran had numerous battles with Stephenson before and seeing the latter with the same antics on Tuesday night did not surprise him anymore.

“It’s always fun playing against Lance. He brings out the best in people and I feel like it’s a great challenge for me to move forward playing against him. Just ignored him and do your thing the way he does his thing against everybody else.”

Stephenson and McDaniels maybe out of the NBA but their desire to play and enjoy the sport they love are still there.

And that could be their return ticket to the NBA.