When Larry Nance Jr. was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers, the thought that he would be challenging Julius Randle and Brandon Bass for a starting role would have seemed ridiculous. Now it has become reality, as Nance Jr. was inserted into the starting line up with Randle falling into the second unit, and Bass seeing his minutes disappear entirely.
Although decreasing Randle’s minutes remains a highly questionable decision, Nance Jr. has played quite well since becoming a starter. As a high energy player, his rebounding and defense has helped to balance out some of his teammate’s most glaring weaknesses.