Larry Nance Jr. Bio
Larry Donnell Nance Jr. (born January 1, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Considered by many as one of the best big men ever to play in the Mountain West Conference, he played college basketball for the Wyoming Cowboys before being drafted 27th overall in the 2015 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. Over the course of his NBA career, Nance has also played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Atlanta Hawks.
Early Life and Background
Larry Donnell Nance Jr. was born on January 1, 1993, in Akron, Ohio. He grew up in the Akron area and attended Revere High School, where he developed into a highly recruited frontcourt prospect. By his senior year he had grown to 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) after beginning high school as a 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) point guard on the freshman team. As a senior, Nance averaged 18.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game for the Minutemen.
He is the son of former NBA player Larry Nance Sr., who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns and won the league’s first Slam Dunk Contest. Nance Jr.’s older sister, Casey, played basketball at Revere High School and went on to play four seasons for the Dayton Flyers at the NCAA Division I level. His younger brother, Pete, also played basketball at Revere High School, spent his college career at Northwestern, and later transferred to the North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball program in June 2022 using his extra year of COVID eligibility. Outside of basketball, Nance supports the English soccer club Leeds United F.C. and became a part-owner in 2023 as a member of 49ers Enterprises, the investment arm of the San Francisco 49ers.
Path to Basketball
Nance committed to the University of Wyoming, where he played four seasons for the Wyoming Cowboys of the Mountain West Conference. Over 123 college games, he averaged 11.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks, establishing himself as one of the most productive big men in program history. He earned recognition as a two-time First-team All-MWC selection, the 2015 MWC Defensive Player of the Year, and a two-time member of the MWC All-Defensive Team.
His strong senior season and defensive versatility helped push his stock into the first round of the 2015 NBA draft, where the Los Angeles Lakers selected him with the 27th overall pick. He signed his rookie scale contract with the Lakers on July 10, 2015, and made his NBA debut on November 6, 2015, recording six points and five rebounds in a 104–98 win over the Brooklyn Nets.
Larry Nance Jr. Career
Los Angeles Lakers Era (2015–2018)
During his rookie season with the Lakers, Nance became a starter at power forward after Julius Randle went down with an injury. On December 27, 2015, he recorded his first career double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds against the Memphis Grizzlies. He matched a season-high 14 rebounds with 15 points and a steal against the Phoenix Suns on January 3, 2016, and grabbed a season-high six steals in a loss to the Golden State Warriors on January 14, 2016. He set a then-career-high with 18 points on November 20, 2016, against the Chicago Bulls.
In his third season, Nance opened with a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double against the Los Angeles Clippers, but fractured the second metacarpal on his left hand on November 3, 2017, missing 11 games. His final game as a Laker came on February 6, 2018, when he posted six points, 10 rebounds and a steal in a 112–93 win over the Phoenix Suns.
Cleveland Cavaliers (2018–2021)
On February 8, 2018, Nance was traded, along with Jordan Clarkson, to his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye and a 2018 first-round draft pick. He switched to jersey No. 22 on February 22, 2018, after the NBA allowed him to wear his father’s retired number, and set early career highs with 22 points and 15 rebounds in his first Cavaliers start against the Detroit Pistons on March 5, 2018. Nance helped Cleveland reach the 2018 NBA Finals, where the Cavaliers were swept 4–0 by the Golden State Warriors.
He signed a four-year, $44.8 million contract extension with the Cavaliers on October 15, 2018, and on December 18, 2018, he hit his first career game-winning shot to beat the Indiana Pacers 92–91. During the 2019–20 season, Nance averaged a career-high 10.1 points per game, and he set a new career high with 23 points against the Atlanta Hawks on February 12, 2020.
Portland Trail Blazers (2021–2022)
On August 28, 2021, Nance was acquired by the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-team sign-and-trade involving the Chicago Bulls. He made his Trail Blazers debut on October 20, 2021, finishing with two points, three rebounds and two assists in a 124–121 loss to the Sacramento Kings.
New Orleans Pelicans (2022–2024)
On February 8, 2022, Portland traded Nance, CJ McCollum and Tony Snell to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of a larger package. Three days later he underwent arthroscopic right knee surgery. On October 1, 2022, Nance signed a two-year, $21.6 million contract extension with the Pelicans.
Atlanta Hawks (2024–2025)
On July 6, 2024, Nance was traded, along with E. J. Liddell, Dyson Daniels, Cody Zeller and draft picks, to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Dejounte Murray. In 24 appearances (3 starts) for Atlanta during the 2024–25 NBA season, he averaged 8.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists. On March 26, 2025, Nance was ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a lingering right medial femoral condyle fracture.
Cleveland Cavaliers Era (2025–Present)
On July 6, 2025, Nance signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers, returning to the franchise where his father became a fan favorite. The reunion gives him a familiar setting in Cleveland as he works his way back from injury.
Driving Style and Strengths
Nance is best known for his defensive versatility, energy on the glass and ability to guard multiple positions. He is a reliable rim protector, an opportunistic cutter and a smart passer out of short rolls, which has made him a valuable connective piece alongside higher-usage scorers throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Nance was a participant in the 2018 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, where he finished second and paid tribute to his father by wearing a retro 1984 Phoenix Suns uniform and performing a cradle dunk, later teaming with Larry Nance Sr. for a father-son alley-oop. He was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at age 16, and he became part-owner of Leeds United F.C. in 2023.
Larry Nance Jr. Career Wins
Larry Nance Jr.’s career is defined less by championship banners and more by steady, durable contributions across multiple franchises. While he has not captured an NBA championship, his winningest stretch came with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he helped the team reach the 2018 NBA Finals. His individual accolades include two First-team All-MWC selections, the 2015 MWC Defensive Player of the Year award and two selections to the MWC All-Defensive Team.
Cleveland Cavaliers Highlights
During his first stint with the Cavaliers, Nance reached the 2018 NBA Finals and later signed a four-year, $44.8 million extension. His most memorable individual moment in Cleveland came on December 18, 2018, when he knocked down his first career game-winning shot against the Indiana Pacers.
Other Performances
Beyond Cleveland, Nance contributed as a rotation big man for the Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans and Atlanta Hawks, posting career-high averages of 10.1 points per game in 2019–20 and averaging 8.5 points with the Hawks in 2024–25 before a season-ending knee injury.
Larry Nance Jr. Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Nance comes from a strong basketball family. His father, Larry Nance Sr., was a three-time NBA All-Star and won the league’s inaugural Slam Dunk Contest in 1984. His older sister Casey played at Revere High School and for the Dayton Flyers, and his younger brother Pete played at Revere and Northwestern before transferring to the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Personal Life
In 2018, Larry Nance Jr. married his longtime girlfriend, Hailey Pince. He continues to live a public life connected to basketball and is involved in ownership ventures outside the sport.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year has been defined by recovery and a fresh start. Nance was ruled out for the remainder of the 2024–25 NBA season on March 26, 2025, because of a right medial femoral condyle fracture sustained during his time with the Atlanta Hawks. On July 6, 2025, he signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers, giving him a familiar locker room and a clear runway to earn minutes at both forward and center.
Heading into the 2025–26 season, Nance’s outlook centers on health and role fit. With his contract history and connection to the Cavaliers organization through his father, he is expected to compete for frontcourt minutes as a versatile defender and connector. His production in Atlanta, where he averaged 8.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists before the injury, offers a reasonable baseline for what he can provide once cleared.