Larry Nance Jr. is playing a career-high 25.3 minutes per game and is playing at or above his career averages
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. is playing more this season than he ever has at the professional level. Nance’s previous high was 22.9 minutes per game during the 2016-17 campaign with the Los Angeles Lakers. Even with the increase in playing time Nance is playing at or above his career averages.
Nance is averaging 8.7 points per game, which matches his career-high set in 2017-18. This production is coming with a career-high 6.6 field goal attempts per game. While Nance’s conversion rate has dropped a bit, the fact he is still finding ways to score is encouraging. Three-point shooting is not really a strength of Nance, but he is making 31.7 percent from deep this season. Granted Nance is only attempting one three-pointer per game, but Nance is not needed to be a threat from deep. There are several other players on the Cavaliers roster who are depended on to make three-pointers.
Nance’s 7.5 rebounds per game is also a career-high. The previous career-high was actually last season with 6.8 per game. 5.3 of Nance’s rebounds are coming on the defensive end of the floor, this number is also a career-high.
Assists do not normally come from a player playing the power forward position, however Nance is also putting up career-high numbers in this category as well. With 3 assists per game, Nance is actually third on the Cavaliers when it comes to assisting teammates. Matthew Dellavedova (3.6) and Kevin Love (3.5) are ahead of Nance in this category. While this actually speaks more about the Cavaliers inability to assist on baskets, Nance succeeding in this area is good to see.
Injuries to the Cavaliers big men have given Larry Nance Jr. more playing time
Granted Larry Nance Jr. was going to see more playing time to begin with, he has been afforded more playing time due to injuries to other big men. At various times throughout the season the team has been without Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson and Ante Zizic. These injuries have left the Cavaliers with a lack of big men. Nance has appeared in more games this season than any other Cleveland big man. This is even with missing time due to an injury of his own.
Even when Love and Thompson return Nance should continue too see his increased playing time. The skill set of Larry Nance Jr. is extremely valuable coming off the bench. The Cleveland Cavaliers continuing to give Nance meaningful minutes is best for both parties. The team needs to continue to play someone like Nance and Nance needs to continue producing with the opportunities he is being given. As long as the minutes keep coming his way, Larry Nance Jr. should continue to put up some career-high marks.
