Larry Nance

Nance averaged 9.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and a career-high 1.7 steals in 31.2 minutes per game for the Cavaliers in 2020-21. He also shot 47.1 percent from the field and 61.2 percent from the free throw line. Nance made a career-high 1.2 threes per game at a career-high 36.0 percent as well. He shot 42.9 percent from three at home. Arguably his best overall performance of the campaign was Dec. 23 in a win over the Hornets. Across 34 minutes, Nance recorded 13 points (5-9 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 13 rebounds (five offensive), a season-high eight assists, three steals and two blocks. That was one of his five double-doubles. His other season highs stood at 18 points, 16 rebounds, four steals, two blocks and four three-pointers. In the three games that Nance saw more than 40 minutes, he averaged 12.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 3.3 steals and 1.0 blocks in 44.0 minutes.

The pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season was Nance's fifth season in the Association and his third with Cleveland. The power forward appeared in 56 games for the Cavaliers, with 10 starts. He set per-game career highs in points (10.1) and three-pointers (1.0) while also averaging 7.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.0 steal in 26.3 minutes per game. Nance shot 53.1 percent from the field and a career-high 35.2 percent from behind the arc. Nance's 122.3 offensive rating ranked 17th in the NBA when the season paused on Mar. 12. Nance's best overall performance of the season occurred Feb. 12 during a game against the Hawks. In 35 minutes, Nance posted a career-high 23 points (8-11 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 5-5 FT), 12 rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocks. The game marked was one of his 12 double-doubles. Nance's longest streak of double-digit scoring was nine games and occurred from Jan. 20 through Feb. 5. Over that period, he averaged 14.8 points on 11.1 shots, 9.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 28.0 minutes per contest. On Mar. 2, Nance started and dished a career-high eight assists, plus added 16 points, eight rebounds and two steals, during a home loss to the Jazz.

In his first full season with the Cavaliers, Nance set career highs across the board. Known for his tenacious dunking skills, the son of the former NBA player with the same name showed there is more skill to his game than just throwing it down. Nance has always had a knack for picking up steals. He averaged 1.5 steals per game during the 2018-19 season, his third year in a row averaging over one steal per contest. He also averaged 9.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists over 27 minutes per game, all career highs. Nance appeared in 67 contests for the Cavs, including 30 starts. The big man missed a few games due to rib and knee injuries. Nance averaged over one three-point attempt per game for the first time in his career, draining 34 percent of his 1.5 attempts per contest. On Feb. 8, Nance gathered a whopping 19 rebounds, to go with 10 points, six assists, and three steals in a loss to Washington. The 6-foot-9 forward delivered a double-double in 18 games and reached double-digit rebound totals in 25 contests.

Nance started his third season in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers. He played in 42 games in L.A., starting 17 of them. Nance averaged 8.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.4 steals per contest for the purple and gold. Nance was dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the trade deadline since the Eastern Conference wanted to add some athleticism, toughness and physicality to their title-contending roster led by LeBron James. Nance had his best month of the season in March, averaging 10.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game for the Cavs. Nance appeared in 20 playoff games for the Cavaliers, as they advanced to the Finals for the fourth straight year. Nance's best game in playoffs came in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors. He tallied nine points and 11 rebounds in the overtime thriller. Nance averaged 4.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in the playoffs overall, playing 15.3 minutes per contest.

Nance ended his sophomore season with averages of 7.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals. The 6-foot-7 forward became a larger threat on both ends of the court; on offense, he shot career bests of 55.4 percent on two-point attempts and 73.8 percent from the line. Nance primarily showcased the improved scoring efficiency by collecting a career-high 18 points during two occasions -- against the Bulls on Nov. 20 and the Celtics on Feb. 3. He also established new career highs for steals (1.3) and blocks (0.9) averaged per game, with his defensive talents best demonstrated through a six-steal performance in a Nov. 1 contest at Indiana. Nance came off the bench during most of the season, but an ankle injury to center Ivica Zubac allowed the sophomore to start all of the team's April contests. He started and impressed in all seven games by averaging a near double-double of 10.3 points and 9.6 rebounds to go along with 2.3 assists and 2.0 steals. Nance even matched his rebounding-high from the prior season by grabbing 14 boards April 2 against the Grizzlies.

With the 27th pick of the 2015 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers drafted the 6-foot-7 forward out of Wyoming in Nance. Despite dealing with a sore right knee for much of the season, he suited up for 63 of the team's 82 games and started 22 times. The injuries did not affect his playing time either, as Nance averaged 20.1 minutes through said contests. Despite coming off the bench for most of the year, the rookie played from the lineup in multiple December and January matches ahead of regular starter Julius Randle. Nance took advantage of his momentary honor by establishing career-bests for points, rebounds, blocks and steals all during games he started. In the Lakers' first contest after Christmas, the 23-year-old scored what became a season-high 17 points on Dec. 27 in Memphis. He then started the calendar year of 2016 strong by grabbing a career-best 14 boards in back-to-back home games against the 76ers on Jan. 1 and the Suns on Jan. 3. Nance provided his most impressive defensive showing on Jan. 14 by collecting six steals against defending champions Golden State. He averaged 7.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals during the stretch of 22 straight starts. At the end of the season, Nance concluded with averages of 5.5 points (52.7 percent shooting) and 5.0 rebounds.