Good Job, Larry
NEW ORLEANS, LA –
“Good Job, Larry”
-Larry June
One of the effective and most efficient players this season for the Pelicans has been the 6 foot 9, Lebron sneaker hoarder, former Wyoming Cowboy, new High Priest of the Archdiocese of New Orleans (performing baptisms frequently at Pelicans’ games), Larry Nance Jr.
Prior to the season, Larry Nance told Pro Pels Talk that he would be able to show all of his skills on this team. He entered the 22-23 season healthy after knee pain that bothered him last season. Personally, he is smarter than I thought. Larry sees actions 2-to-3 steps before they happen, and the numbers are backing that up.
Most of the Pelicans great team statistical lineups include Larry Nance. He’s almost like Boobie Miles. “He can block, tackle, score the touchdown, hike the ball, hold the snap, and kick the extra point. Hell, [he] would fill the Gatorade cooler, walk the dog and paint your back porch.” Prior to Coach Willie Green calling Naji Marshall “a knife”, he called Larry Nance a “Swiss-army knife”. He is the Taysom Hill of the Pelicans.
The son of former NBA player and the 1st NBA slam dunk champion, Larry Nance Sr, Junior definitely picked up some skills from the genetic pool. His father made the NBA All-Defensive Team 3 times in the course of his 13-year career. While amassing 15,000 points and 7,000 rebounds, Senior had his number 22 retired by the Cleveland Cavaliers, which Junior wears to this day.
The Ohio native was born with basketball in his blood, but what he does off the court impresses me the most. Larry has auctioned off his home game jersey to benefit schools in the New Orleans Public School System. The money that the jersey gets is matched by Larry and his wife to benefit the schools directly to help with essentials that they may need to operate. Larry also wears merchandise of the school he’s supporting that night.
One particular night, Larry was supporting Edna Karr. Not only did he auction off a jersey for their school. He assisted in getting tickets for the entire Edna Karr Marching Band to play during the timeouts of the New Orleans Pelicans vs Brooklyn Nets game. The band orchestrated the atmosphere of 18,000 fans in attendance.
Larry Nance, Jr. has played a pivotal role for the Pelicans. Whether it is setting a screen, switching onto a guard, rolling for a pocket pass, or taking off for a poster, St. Lawrence the Baptist has been a patriarch of this team and this community. He even creates memes and photos to post on social media to describe his teammates if they have a big game. He’s truly a jack of all trades. He has shown love to the city of New Orleans, and like a trolly rolling uptown, it is time that love is returned back.
The New Orleans Pelicans have dropped 5 games in a row and 10 of the last 13. Things are looking bleak for the bayou birds. A plethora of injuries have ravaged the roster: Zion Williamson (hamstring), Naji Marshall (toe), and as of last night Dyson Daniels (ankle). Not to mention CJ McCollum, Larry Nance, Herb Jones & Jose Alvarado have all battled injuries throughout the year. Brandon Ingram (toe) has missed 29 games since his injury. He plans to make his debut tonight vs the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Smoothie King Center.
