Positional Power Rankings: 30 best power forwards in the NBA
By John Buhler
Larry Nance Jr.
Power Forward, Los Angeles Lakers
While he has been benched due to his team trying to legally tank the rest of the way, there is nothing wrong with Los Angeles Lakers power forward Larry Nance Jr. The guy has so much raw athleticism, it is borderline terrifying.
Nance likes to play above-the-rim much like his NBA father Larry Nance Sr. did for years with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Los Angeles has a bit of a logjam in its young frontcourt, but Nance will have a roll in the NBA for the foreseeable future. Whether that is with the Lakers remains to be seen.
Look at Nance as a lesser version of Aaron Gordon. Much of the athleticism, slightly older, but not the expectations that come with a former lottery pick. Nance seems to lean on his athleticism more than most big men, but it will make him a commodity on somebody’s bench for the next several years.
Los Angeles does seem to like him even though his playing time may dwindle in the coming games. However, the Lakers have to figure out what is going on down in the paint before they become the 76ers. One could argue that Nance offers the highest trade value due to durability, thunderous dunks, and energy coming off the bench.
He may not be the player his father was, but Nance can be more than a seventh or eighth man in a rotation on a terrible basketball team. Nance may not have a long NBA career, but could play a big role coming off the bench as a fourth big on a championship team before it is all said and done.