The Cleveland Cavaliers are bringing back a familiar face.
They signed veteran PF/C Larry Nance Jr. to return to the team.
Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take long before he chose his number.
As reported by Etienne Catalan, he’s going to wear his usual No. 22 jersey, which was last worn by him in 2021 and by his father all the way back in 1994.
Larry Nance Jr. (@Larrydn22) will wear No. 22 for the #Cavs. Number last worn by himself in 2021 and his father in 1994. #NBA pic.twitter.com/ZoC8RLNG94
— Etienne Catalan (@EtienneCatalan) July 6, 2025
The former Los Angeles Lakers draft pick spent four years with the Cavaliers from 2018 to 2021.
He made 182 regular-season appearances for the Cavs (76 starts) and averaged 9.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.4 steals in roughly 27 minutes a night.
He also made 20 playoff appearances in Cleveland, helping the team make it to the 2018 NBA Finals.
Nance has been in the league for a decade now.
He saw his playing time take a dip last season, making just 24 appearances (three starts) for the Atlanta Hawks and averaging 8.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game on 51.6% from the floor.
So far, he’s made 546 regular-season appearances (137 starts) while playing for the Lakers, Cavs, Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Hawks.
He has career averages of 7.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game, and he’s shot at least 50% from the floor in all but one of his seasons in the league.
He will give Kenny Atkinson’s team a versatile defender who can be deadly in passing lanes and anchor their defense in the second unit.
If he can stay healthy and knock down a couple of shots, he should be Jarrett Allen’s primary backup right off the bat.
NEXT: Insider Reveals Why Cavs Are 'Gambling' On Lonzo Ball
