The wily vet brings a lot to the table.
By trading a former All-Star in Dejounte Murray, NBA fans largely wrote off the Atlanta Hawks from playoff contention. They had reasonable doubt, as head coach Quin Snyder had no longer a secondary star to back up their franchise centerpiece, Trae Young.
Conversely, the Hawks received more than enough in return from the New Orleans Pelicans to make up for the presence of a co-star. Former eighth overall pick Dyson Daniels has elevated Snyder’s game plan to new extremes with a prominent two-way mindset. Along with Daniels, Atlanta landed one of the league’s most athletically inclined big men, Larry Nance Jr.
As much of the media focused on Daniels’ arrival to the Hawks, many overlooked how Nance Jr. would fit under Snyder’s scheme. He is a force above the rim that can impact either end of the floor. There is no better fit in the active rotation, especially with a playmaking wonder like Young setting the scene.
Conversely, Nance Jr.’s strongest attribute is his developmental influence away from the court. Through nine seasons in the NBA, the Ohio native has played around countless all-time greats on four different teams. This leaves plenty of experience for rising stars like Jalen Johnson and Zaccharie Risacher to learn from.
With the Hawks’ injury report growing game by game earlier in the season, Nance Jr. made his Atlanta debut on October 28th, 2024, against the Washington Wizards. In just 23 minutes, he stuffed the stat sheet with 15 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals.
Through time and opportunity, the door opened for Nance Jr. to chip in and contribute off the bench. Despite a roller coaster of minutes, he played a veteran role and starred in what he was asked to do. This truly defines Nance Jr. as one of the most well-respected players in the NBA.
Moreover, Nance Jr.’s best performance coincidentally occurred in the Hawks’ most impressive win of the season. In a shorthanded battle against the reigning NBA champions, the six-foot-eight, 245-pound force shredded the Celtics on their home territory. He knocked down five three-pointers, finishing with 19 points on seven of ten shooting.
Performances like these exemplify how commanding Nance Jr. can be when provided with the appropriate amount of minutes. He is not one to dominate the spotlight, but he can catch fire from deep, hustle on defense, and ultimately affect the win-loss column for Atlanta.
Quin Snyder and the coaching staff have a relatively fair sample size to evaluate the rotation and revise accordingly. Although there isn’t much left to fix, Nance Jr. deserves an increased role off the bench. He is the epitome of Atlanta’s culture and has the potential to uplift the Hawks’ postseason capacities.
Given how underwhelming the Eastern Conference has been thus far, the Hawks have their best chance to leap in the playoff standings. Making the correct decisions, like expanding the role of Nance Jr., could go a long way in competing.