From the minute it was announced that the Lakers had drafted him, Larry Nance Jr. has been a surprise. Most casual fans had not even heard of him, and the fact that the Lakers selected him with players like Montrezl Harrell and R.J. Hunter still on the board was quickly second-guessed.
In the aftermath of the draft, there was hope that Nance Jr. could develop into a hustle player and defender for the Lakers. He had played a similar role in college, despite struggling with injuries and Crohn’s disease.
Since the draft, however, Larry Nance Jr.