Lakers News: Larry Nance Jr. to switch to father’s number with Cleveland Cavaliers

Los Angeles Lakers news involves the recently traded Larry Nance Jr., who will be changing to his father’s number with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Recent Los Angeles Lakers news involves a former Laker in Larry Nance Jr. The Lakers trade Nance Jr., along with Jordan Clarkson, to the Cleveland Cavaliers prior to the NBA Trade Deadline. In exchange for Nance Jr. and Clarkson, the Lakers received Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye and the Cavaliers 2018 first-round draft pick.

While Lakers fans were disappointed to see those two go, they didn’t have to wait long to see Nance Jr. back. Nance Jr. participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star weekend.

Nance Jr. did not disappoint during the contest. While he did not win, Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz did, Nance Jr. had the best dunk of the competition.

Nance Jr. threw a pass to himself off the backboard, caught it, and tossed it off a second time as he elevated towards the rim. It was easily the most creative dunk of the evening.

While Nance Jr. was robbed of a victory, he did have another great dunk. Nance Jr. paid homage to his father, Larry Nance Sr. with his first dunk of the contest. Nance Jr. donned his father’s Phoenix Suns jersey.

It was a nice tribute to his father, evening re-creating his patented rock-the-cradle dunk.

Wearing his father’s number has been a topic of discussion. His father has his No. 22 retired by the Cavaliers, as it hangs in the rafters of Quicken Loans Arena. Nance Jr. chose No. 24 as a result, but that will be changing.

More from Lake Show Life

• Darvin Ham adds to Max Christie hype train after Lakers preseason opener
• Is LeBron James playing tonight? Latest Lakers vs Warriors update
• Can Darvin Ham put all of the Lakers puzzle pieces together?
• Lakers news: Darvin Ham knows his fifth starter, LeBron James and Rui Hachimura, Jalen Hood-Schifino praise
• Michael Malone’s painfully ironic comment has Lakers fans heated

According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Nance Jr. will be donning his father’s No. 22 jersey soon.

"“I’ll be wearing No. 22 from here on out,” Nance Jr. said during an impromptu news conference in the Cavs locker room before the team’s 110-103 loss to the Washington Wizards on Thursday. “My dad’s jersey will get to stay retired in the rafters, so, I couldn’t be happier with it. I think that starts next week, and I’m thrilled. I’ve been wearing 22 my whole life, and to get to wear it for the Cleveland Cavaliers is beyond a dream come true.”"

Nance Jr. originally chose No. 24 with the Cavaliers to, ‘make it easy for everybody.’ Nance Jr. also chose a different number because he was unsure if the team would have to remove his father’s number from the rafters.

That won’t happen, as the Cavaliers revisited the issue during the All-Star break and a resolution was found. The Cavaliers worked with the NBA, their own marketing department, the front office and Nike, the outfitter for the NBA, to make it come to fruition.

Nance Jr. was excited to share the news about the jersey change with his father.

"“My dad is a man of few words, so he kind of just let me know with a smile that he was excited,” Nance Jr. said."

Next: Lakers 5 Greatest All-Star Weekend Moments

Nance Jr. will wear No. 24 for a few games while Nike gets No. 22 jerseys made. Tuesday against the Brooklyn Nets is when ESPN believes he will reveal the No. 22 jersey.