Cavs: Franchise icons fill the Cavaliers’ All-1990s Team

Larry Nance, Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

Cavs’ All-1990s Team: F – Larry Nance

Not to be confused with his athletic son Larry Nance Jr. who played for the Cavs very recently, Larry Nance Sr. was an impact player for the Cavaliers in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The team flipped a high-upside guard named Kevin Johnson to the Phoenix Suns for Nance, a move that truly worked as a win-win for both sides.

One of the greatest dunkers of all time, the first thing you noticed about Larry Nance was his athleticism; he could positively leap out of the gym. The second thing you noticed was that your surefire layup had been blocked into the stands when Nance came out of nowhere to provide the rejection.

One of the best defensive players in the league, Nance made three All-Defensive teams, two falling in the ’90s. He finished in the top 6 in blocks per game three times in the decade, and for his career his 2.2 blocks per game average ranks 20th all-time.

Nance made the All-Star Game in 1993, a season when he averaged 16.5 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. His athleticism and desire to dunk the ball helped him be an efficient scorer, and he was an underrated passer who would likely have averaged more assists if he hadn’t been playing alongside Mark Price.

Only LeBron James has a claim better than Nance’s for best defensive player in team history, as Nance was simply a monster on that end. The team success the Cavs had during the decade was propelled by Nance’s elite defense, and he is a no-brainer selection for the All-Decade Team.