The Cleveland Cavaliers are one of the NBA’s bright, young and talented teams.
Led by All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell and shot blocking maestro Jarrett Allen, Cleveland sits at fourth in the Eastern Conference standings. The Cavs are behind the Boston Celtics (top seed), Milwaukee Bucks (second) and Philadelphia 76ers, who are all NBA finals contenders.
Most people might know the Cavs for LeBron James, who’s in every G.O.A.T argument with former UNC superstar Michael Jordan.
What basketball fans might not know, though, is Cleveland has deep family ties.
Those family ties include newly-signed Pete Nance, the former Tar Heel who – on Tuesday, Jan. 16 – signed a 10-day contract.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are signing F/C Pete Nance on a 10-day contract, sources tell ESPN. Nance has averaged 13.5 points and 7.9 rebounds for Cavs’ G League affiliate. He went undrafted in 2023 after spending his final college season at UNC. pic.twitter.com/kkb4I1vuD0
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 17, 2024
If this transaction sounds familiar, it’s because it does. Nance originally signed with Cleveland on Sept. 13 last year – after going undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft. His play with the Cleveland Charge (13.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game), the Cavs’ G-League affiliate, earned him a trial run in the big leagues.
Basketball fans might recognize Pete’s older brother, Larry Jr. Larry was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2015, spent 2017-2021 with the Cavs, played a season in Portland (Ore.) and is now in Year 3 with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Larry Sr., the eldest Nance, has enjoyed the most successful NBA career so far. He was a 3-time All-Star, a 1989 member of the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team, a Slam Dunk Contest Champion and – his greatest honor of all – having his number 22 retired by Cleveland.
Pete had a lot of high expectations coming into Chapel Hill, with many hoping he’d step in right away and replace Brady Manek’s production. Nance played solid basketball, averaging 10 points and six rebounds per game, but he failed to live up to his lofty expectations.
Here’s to a successful NBA career for the youngest Nance!
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