Introduction
Larry Donnell Nance Jr. (born January 1, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Wyoming, where he was considered one of the best big men in the Mountain West Conference after leading the 2014–15 Wyoming Cowboys to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002.
High school and college career
Nance attended Revere High School near Akron, Ohio, growing into a then-6'7" body by his senior year after playing point guard for the freshman team standing at 5'11". He averaged 18.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game as a senior for the Minutemen.
In his four-year college career at Wyoming, Nance averaged 11.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks in 123 games.
College statistics
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 | Wyoming | 33 | 0 | 17.9 | .462 | .333 | .814 | 4.0 | .4 | .8 | .6 | 4.1 |
| 2012–13 | Wyoming | 33 | 33 | 32.0 | .533 | .345 | .750 | 6.9 | 1.2 | 1.3 | .7 | 10.7 |
| 2013–14 | Wyoming | 26 | 26 | 34.7 | .544 | .243 | .758 | 8.6 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 15.4 |
| 2014–15 | Wyoming | 31 | 31 | 34.9 | .514 | .333 | .786 | 7.2 | 2.5 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 16.1 |
| Career | 123 | 90 | 29.5 | .521 | .308 | .771 | 6.6 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 11.3 | |
Professional career
Los Angeles Lakers (2015–present)
On June 25, 2015, Nance was selected with the 27th overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. On July 10, he signed his rookie scale contract with the Lakers.
2015–16 season
He made his NBA debut on November 6 against the Brooklyn Nets, recording six points and five rebounds in a 104–98 win. On December 7, he made his first start for the Lakers after replacing Julius Randle at the starting power forward spot against the Toronto Raptors. On December 27, he recorded his first career double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds in a 112–96 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
2016–17 season
On November 20, 2016, Nance scored a career-high 18 points in a 118–110 loss to the Chicago Bulls. On December 25, 2016, he was ruled out for four weeks after suffering an injury to his left knee.
NBA career statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | L.A. Lakers | 63 | 22 | 20.1 | .527 | .100 | .681 | 5.0 | .7 | .9 | .4 | 5.5 |
| Career | 63 | 22 | 20.1 | .527 | .100 | .681 | 5.0 | .7 | .9 | .4 | 5.5 | |
Personal life
Nance is the son of Larry Nance, a former professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns. Nance, Sr. was a three-time NBA All-Star and won the league's first Slam Dunk Contest. He also suffers from Crohn's Disease.