Larry Nance facts for kids
Nance with the Phoenix Suns in 1987
|
|
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 12, 1959 Anderson, South Carolina, U.S. |
| High school | McDuffie (Anderson, South Carolina) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Clemson (1977–1981) |
| NBA Draft | 1981 / Round: 1 / Pick: 20th overall |
| Selected by the Phoenix Suns | |
| Pro career | 1981–1994 |
| Career history | |
| 1981–1988 | Phoenix Suns |
| 1988–1994 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 15,687 (17.1 ppg) |
| Blocks | 2,027 (2.2 bpg) |
Larry Donnell Nance Sr. (born February 12, 1959) is a former professional basketball player from the United States. He played as a forward. Larry Nance played for 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was a member of the Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers. He was chosen as an NBA All-Star three times during his career.
Contents
College Basketball Days
Larry Nance played college basketball for the Clemson Tigers. In his junior year, his team made it to the Elite Eight. This is a big achievement in the college basketball tournament.
Playing in the NBA
Phoenix Suns (1981-1988)
Larry Nance scored over 15,000 points and grabbed over 7,000 rebounds in his NBA career. He is famous for being the very first winner of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. This happened in 1984. He was so good at dunking that he earned the nickname "The High-Ayatolla of Slamola."
Larry Nance was a very consistent player. For eleven seasons as a starter, he averaged more than 16 points and 8 rebounds per game. His best scoring year was in the 1986–1987 NBA season. He averaged 22.5 points per game that year. He was also great at shooting from mid-range and playing close to the basket.
In 1988, Larry Nance was part of a big trade. He moved from the Suns to the Cavaliers. This trade helped both teams.
Cleveland Cavaliers (1988-1994)
Joining the Cleveland Cavaliers helped them become a stronger team. Larry Nance played alongside center Brad Daugherty. They formed a strong duo in the frontcourt.
Larry Nance missed most of the 1993–1994 season. He had a knee injury that needed two surgeries. His knee did not get better, so he decided to retire in September 1994.
He was an NBA All-Star in 1985, 1989, and 1993. He was also chosen for the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 1989. He made the Second Team in 1992 and 1993. Larry Nance was also one of the best shot blockers in the league. He averaged 2.2 blocks per game throughout his career. When he retired, he held the record for most blocked shots by a player who was not a center.
Family Life
Larry Nance has a son named Larry Nance Jr.. Larry Jr. also became a professional basketball player. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2015. Later, he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018. Larry Nance Sr. gave permission for his son to wear his retired number 22 jersey.
Larry Nance's daughter, Casey Nance, played college basketball for Dayton. Another son, Pete Nance, played college basketball for Northwestern and North Carolina. In January 2024, Pete Nance signed with the Cavaliers. This made him the second Nance son to play for the Cavs.
Larry Nance also enjoys car racing. He owns a 1967 "Catch 22" Camaro NHRA drag racer. His team races it on weekends.
See also
In Spanish: Larry Nance para niños
- List of NBA career blocks leaders
- List of NBA career field goal percentage leaders
- List of NBA single-game blocks leaders
