Larry Nance Jr. Intro Media Availability

Larry Nance Jr. Intro Media Availability

Nice shirt, by the way. Thank you. Chris Fedor, Cleveland.com. Thank you. Um, what are the emotions like coming back here? Um, man, right off the bat, it’s just home, you know? Uh, it it sounds so corny, but um, just from walking back in the building, it’s just so many h so many smiling faces that I got to see and be around and and really know as people that I get to, you know, that uh I get to invest and put put some more time back in our relationship. So, I’m I’m really um I don’t necessarily have a word or direct emotion, but it’s uh it’s all positive. I know you had other options. What was it about this one that that made you feel like time was now to come back? Um over the past few years, you know, if I’m born and raised here, you know, I mean, I’m been playing for the Hawks, playing for the Pelicans. Yeah, I want them to win every game, but I was a Cavs fan. Um um and so watching the playoffs the past few years and um it was hard to you know it’s hard not to just sit on the couch and kind of look you know tap my wife and be like I can I can help like I could really do that. Um and this is a team that’s really got a chance to win it all. And and uh I feel like um that’s the goal. That’s why I came back and that’s what I’m what we’re what we’re going to do this year. Where do you feel like you can help the most? Um, you know, when it gets to the playoffs, you know, it gets to a lot of gets to a lot of switching and a lot of five out movement. And again, the way my game has developed over the past few years is is a lot of five out. You know, I shoot threes. Um, I shoot threes. I I I play on the perimeter. I’m very comfortable out there. And especially, you know, the way Kenny’s got the guys playing very team first and and uh again with Don and Darius, the way just guarding them, you could tell how how easy they make it for the bigs. and and um I just I just think I’ll fit in really well here. Danny Cunningham lock on just how much or I guess where do you think your game has changed the most since the time you left here to go to Portland coming back now? Uh the most is definitely shooting. Um that’s that’s where I’ve been uh putting a lot of my work putting a lot of my work in and effort in and and um you know it’s it’s it’s bared fruit. You know, last year I shot it really well, shortened season, but the year before that I shot it well and and um you know, it’s it’s uh now it’s just getting the volume up and and and uh you know, keeping that moving, but you know, I’m shooting has been really really paramount for me recently. What were your initial conversations with Kobe and and Kenny like when it became clear that this was a possibility that you could be coming back? Um the it’s funny like the I’ve always felt you know Kobe’s here, Gansy’s here, like I you know the whole training staff, this strength staff, like I still know them all and I’ve played with half the roster before. So, I’ve had just kind of a general pulse on like, you know, the vibe of what’s been going on and and and the camaraderie and all that stuff and and um so the conversations with with with Kenny and Kobe weren’t even that big of a deal to me. I I to be honest with you, I can’t it just it made too much sense, you know, like need another big that preferably can spread the floor and move a little bit on the perimeter. like it’s just kind of fed right into exactly what I know I do and exactly how I know I can help. And um the conversations with them were just very, you know, that exactly what I was already thinking. So hearing just hearing them reiterate what was I would say already my plan and coming back was it just made too much sense all over again. When you initially left here, did you think you’d ever be back playing for the Cats again? Yeah, I knew I would. I didn’t know when. Um, I’m a Cavs fan. You know, when did you first think that was real? The end of this year. The end of this year. Um, I didn’t know when. Again, I just at the end of this year, it just became pretty like, man, it’d be kind of cool. And then, you know, you slowly start talking it over in conversation, you know, with with with my wife and family. and it just uh really happy it worked out the way it did. Really really happy. Spencer Davis, Cass on SI. Um when you look at from a team perspective, you come in, you have championship expectations and then you have different iterations throughout when you’re here. You come back and now there’s championship expectations again. Um but it’s with guys that are developed now or are starting to develop in that direction. What’s that part of it like for you to see like DG and some of these young guys? Yeah. Um yeah. I know it is funny because again I got here with champions championship expectations and again we got there um but you know a few years of rebuilding after that and so um I always think of I think back to the finals when I got to playing it in that playoff run coming from LA I I wasn’t ready as a player. I don’t think I was ready to compete at that level. Um I’m ready now. Um, I’ve been ready and um, that’s that’s something that I was that’s something that I wanted to check off my own box first. Um, so I feel that I’m ready to compete at that level and ready to go win. And, you know, come on. They just won 64 games. They’re fine. You know, I I don’t have to worry about them. I need to worry about me and making myself integrate with them. So, you know, seeing DJ, the player he’s turned into, the all-star he’s turned into has been still being the same awesome kid I knew when he first got here is heartwarming. It’s it’s awesome to see and really cool. Like, um, you know, obviously Don playing against him and and seeing him all these years, it’s he speaks for himself. Jared has been a monster. Evan, of course, has turned, you know, defensive player of the year. like it’s it’s it’s been really cool to see the growth of the guys here since um you know since uh you know since I left and even DeAndre you know Dre was um Dre was great that was great I really enjoyed playing with him last year. So um this is a roster that I just um have have really enjoyed watching them grow as as people and players. I’m just excited to get back with them. What makes you feel ready? You speak very confidently of that. Yeah. Um, looking watching the I think it’s the physicality. I didn’t know what the playoffs were. I’d never been to the playoffs. So, the physicality, the intensity, I’ve seen that, you know, I’ve I’ve been in a few playoff series since then and I and I feel like that is um it’s the height of basketball and I got the itch. Um, I I think I was a little nervous going into it the first time when I was when I first got here. I’m hungry for it now. That’s that’s that’s all I want to do. and and um I guess I can’t tell you how I know I am, how I know it’s like, you know, I’m ready to win, ready to win, ready to compete, but it’s uh I have been for the past few years, and this just is the perfect opportunity to do it with the place that I’m know and love. Hey there, Cameron Justice, News5 Cleveland. Back when you were traded here, you said the biggest challenge was convincing your mom you weren’t going to move in with her and stay in her basement. this time around. What was it like the family’s reaction knowing that you wanted to be here, you’re coming back here and this was going to be your reality? Yeah. Um I think it’s still kind of setting in um setting in for me, setting in for them, you know, because it’s it is a whole it is a whole change. You know, I went out to Portland, went to New Orleans, and played in Atlanta, and now it’s like, all right, you know, they got used to me being kind of gone, and the my you know, my my wife and my daughter’s being gone, and now it’s like, hey, you know, you guys want to take her to school? Um you know, it’s very it’s it’s great. you know, I don’t think uh I don’t think we’ve really wrapped our head around, you know, the all the potential positives and and and troubles that comes with it, but right now it’s just we’re all just so so excited. For you having the third party view kind of from the outside watching this team grow, how do you think that will benefit you as you step in here as as a veteran leader, as a guy that just wants to kind of make an impact here? Um, yeah. And I wouldn’t even say I wouldn’t even say I’m trying to come in here as a as like, hey, you know, let me let me teach you young fellas. You know, that’s not that’s not, you know, these guys have done more winning than I’ve gotten to do. Like I I my job is to get in line with them. You know, I may be one of the older guys on the team, but I’m you know, my job is to get in line with them. You know, I I I uh you know, those four is who I’m here to support. You know, Ashley Holder, uh channel 19. What has been the reaction from fans? Just you coming back home playing for the home team. What’s what’s kind of been that? Um, again, I I can’t even help but smile. Like, it’s it’s just it’s just pretty incredible the reception. Uh, you know, the reception via social media and and I was went and dropped my daughter off at camp today, was getting gas, and had someone come up and be like, “Man, we are thrilled you’re back.” It’s just um it’s just very cool to know that the place and this team and this place that I hold so near and dear to my heart feels the same way and um I just I truly cannot wait to just play for him again. Is there any place that you’re like once you touch down? I know you come back still, but like Swenson. Yeah. Yeah. Swson’s. All right. What’s the What’s the order there? I know. I know the ideal answer is a galley boy. That’s not for me. Um I don’t love olives, but um uh it’s a double cheese again. Whoa. I’m an athlete. I only do this on occasion. But it’s a double cheese, some tots. Uh got to have a Florida. And I also get the chicken tenders if I’m splurging. If I’m splurging. Odyssey only. Yes. Odyssey. Yeah. Jimmy Watkins cle.com. Welcome back. Thank you. When you say you’re not sure how you know you’re ready and looking back, how do you know you weren’t ready the first time? Because I know the emotions I felt. I was so nervous, you know, like it’s, you know, I’m I’m just wasn’t ready. Um, you know, and it’s it’s that’s only on me and me only. And it’s you just didn’t know until you got there. But it was one of those like, man, I these guys are good. And granted, yeah, that it’s probably one of the best teams of all time that we lost to. But, um, in playing, you know, again, we in New Orleans, we played OKC. We played number one seed Phoenix, um, the past two years, I guess, in New Orleans. And, and, um, it just is addicting. I I I going into those games and knowing how I felt just with like all fists clenched, ready to ready to rock. Um I wasn’t that the first time around. And that’s um that’s kind of how I knew I wasn’t. Um it’s all in hindsight, but again, I just can’t reiterate enough that like this is that’s that’s the goal. That’s the dream. And and I know I’m ready for it. And then for these guys here, they to a man after the recent postseason that they said they need to get tougher. How, if at all, do you see that watching from home manifest? And how how do you think that can get corrected? Um, you know, that’s that’s something that that’s something that, you know, I haven’t even been around the guys yet. You know, you know, I’ve got to, you know, hang out with with with Jaylen and and and Tyrese and and some of the guys here for for summer league. But, um, you know, that’s that’s, like I said, I’m I am not here to try and hey guys, follow me. Let me lead you into the No, no. Like I if if if if Don’s the leader, Don’s the leader. If Darius is the leader, if Jared, Jared, Evan, like I I’m here to play. I’m here to support them in the best way that I can. And and um it’s not uh it’s not uh when you win, nobody cares. That’s the goal. So I, you know, if if if I don’t play, it’s fine as long as we win. It was brief, but you played with Lonzo in Los Angeles. What do you think this version of Lonzo can bring to this team? Zo is so exciting. The game of basketball is a better place with Zo playing. He He is He and I mean that. I truly do. Um he is plays the game as pure as pure gets. My man is gets off the ball and shares it and just wants to make you better, you better. You better. You better. Doesn’t just want to, does um I’m I’m really excited about playing with Zo. think he is. Um I think he is I think he’s incredible. Really, I’m excited to play again with him again and and uh I’m just looking forward to him making my job a lot easier. All right. Thank you. Thanks, guys. Thanks, guys. All right. Oh, yeah. Let’s go.

New Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Larry Nance Jr. spoke with the media at Cleveland Clinic Courts on July 7, 2025.