Larry Nance Jr. Is More Than Just a Summer League Surprise for LA Lakers

Larry Nance Jr. was as surprised as Los Angeles Lakers fans were when the team selected him with the 27th pick in the first round of the NBA draft on June 25.

“It was insane,” Nance said per Scott Nulph of Wyo Sports. “Two months ago, I didn’t know if I was going to hear my name called at all. ... To sneak into the first round and hearing my name called by probably the greatest franchise in NBA history was a heck of an honor.”

But during summer-league action in Las Vegas, the 6’9” power forward filled in some of the blanks and showed why the Lakers decided to take him—snagging rebounds, altering shots and chasing down loose balls.

Among the highlights was a high-velocity block on teen giant Jahlil Okafor of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Nance’s stats that night included eight points, five rebounds, three steals, two blocks and an assist.

However, not every game in Sin City was a standout for the four-year Wyoming Cowboy, just as the results for the Lakers as a whole lacked consistency.

But Nance brought his signature hustle and energy on a nightly basis, earning comparisons to a “Mad Dog” from the past—Lakers assistant coach Mark Madsen, who was in charge of the Vegas summer squad.

“If you're putting me in the same breath as Larry, I take that as a huge compliment,” Madsen said per Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times. “That guy's a special player. Larry's a guy who can change a game in a lot of different ways.”

Nance has all-out effort in his blood as the son of Larry Nance, a shot-blocking power forward and three-time All-Star who put in 13 years with the Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers. During his four years at Wyoming, the younger Nance modeled his game after his father's.

“The obvious answer would be Dad,” Nance said per Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. “I definitely stole a few of his moves watching some black and white VHS tapes. But he’s definitely someone I would like to be like.”

The rookie has already endured numerous challenges in life, including being diagnosed at 16 with Crohn’s disease—a serious and painful digestive disorder that filled him with ulcers. Treatment for the condition still requires getting hooked up to an intravenous bag of Remicade every two months.

His trials continued at Wyoming, with a season-ending ACL injury to his right knee as a junior. But he came back strong in his senior year, averaging 16.1 points, 7.2 boards and 1.2 blocks. Nance was also named Mountain West Co-Defensive Player of the Year, among other honors.

Then came the predraft workouts all over the country, including one with the Lakers on June 19. After the workout, he was asked what his best attribute was.

“If there’s a ball on the court in in the first quarter (through) fourth quarter, I’m on it,” Nance said per Joey Ramirez of Lakers.com. “Whether I get it or not, I’m gonna be on the floor working for it. The second a shot goes up—if you’re looking underneath the rim, you’ll see my try to get in a box-out position.”

The Lakers frontcourt is currently loaded, especially at power forward. Nance will presumably take his place in line behind Julius Randle, who played just 14 minutes in his rookie season before breaking his leg, and Brandon Bass, a Lakers free-agent signee who has 10 years of NBA experience. Ryan Kelly, a stretch 4 who had a disappointing sophomore season, also remains on the roster.

The most likely scenario is that Nance will spend a lot of time with the Lakers’ D-League affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders, gaining the kind of experience and floor burn he wouldn’t get on an NBA bench.

But don’t be surprised if the 22-year-old leapfrogs some of his competition this season. He brings athleticism, hunger and a defensive intensity that head coach Byron Scott will appreciate.

It’s also worth noting that the rookie was dissatisfied with his summer league efforts.

“I’ve got a whole lot to work on. I felt like at times I was invisible on the court and that’s definitely something I got to work on, in terms of being more active,” Nance said, per a Lakers Nation video.

He also pledged to work harder on his mid-range jumpers and add strength and bulk in the weight room.

Nance can be more than a pleasant summer surprise for the Lakers.

He may become a steady rotation player who doesn't need the ball in his hands to impact the game. On a team with Jordan Clarkson, D'Angelo Russell and Randle as its future core—and with Kobe Bryant still hanging around in the present—Nance has a clear path to proving his value.