PHOENIX >> It hardly seemed to irritate Larry Nance Jr. that he nursed a wrap around a sprained right thumb that he jokingly said stemmed from having a thumb war with Jordan Clarkson.
Nance also looked unfazed as he stomached the reality he won’t participate in the NBA’s Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star weekend in New Orleans.
“I’m cool with it. It doesn’t bother me at all,” Nance said before the Lakers played the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday at Talking Stick Resort Arena. “My focus is one thing: I just want to win.”
Nance received an invitation, but plans became complicated after he missed 16 games because of a bone bruise in his left knee.
“The dunk contest is something I want to do at some point,” Nance said. “It’s not this year, that’s cool. It wasn’t last year, that’s cool. Knock on wood, hopefully I have a long career and have a few years to choose when I want to do it.”
It seemed fitting Nance said those words in Phoenix, which is the franchise his father represented when he won the 1984 NBA Dunk Contest. But Nance has morphed into something more than a highlight reel.
He sent out a tweet following Tuesday’s loss to Sacramento where he criticized his defense as Kings center DeMarcus Cousins scored 40 points. Nance added on Wednesday that “when I don’t reach the expectations set by myself, I get upset, especially defensively.”
“Larry’s very critical of himself, to a fault,” Lakers coach Luke Walton said. “He’s one of our best players, he’s out there always trying to make the right plays and the right reads. Sometimes he’s too hard on himself. You want guys to be hard on themselves because that motivates you to get better and to work harder. I like taking accountability, but it’s not his fault at all.”
Though the Lakers said the second unit has taken a by-committee approach, Walton has liked how Nance’s hustle and team play have set a good example. He has raised his voice to his teammates about improving on transition defense, hustling and “the little things.”
And to, think, the Harlem Globetrotters actually drafted Nance to play before the Lakers selected him 27th overall in 2015. Nance said he was selected on a team that also included pop star Justin Bieber and U.S. women’s soccer player Alex Morgan.
“I was assuming I was there because I can jump,” Nance said. “I’m assuming I was there because I’m the only one that has any ties to basketball. It’s more of a formality, but I’d still love to rock the Globetrotters jersey.”
Nance received some early training at least.
Harlem Globetrotters player Anthony “Buckets” Blakes showed Nance some tricks following practice at the Lakers’ facility in El Segundo. Incidentally, both went to the University of Wyoming in different stints. Hence, Blakes has admired Nance’s game from afar, including his one-handed dunk this season over Brooklyn center Brook Lopez.
“For you to take off on a veteran like that and make the other bench go [crazy], that’s a confidence builder,” Blakes said. “But he doesn’t mind on dunking on anybody in the first place. He’s a big guy, rebounder and hustler. With his added jump shot and bounce in his step, he’ll be in this league for a long time.”
All of which leaves Nance plenty of time to provide in a highlight reel in a future NBA dunk contest.
“When I want to do it, the invitation will be there,” Nance said. “I’ve set a pretty good standard.”
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