# Larry Nance
**Larry Nance** (full name Larry Donell Nance; born 1959) is an American former professional basketball player, a 6'10" forward-center who played 13 seasons in the NBA for the [Phoenix Suns](https://www.edgepedia.org/phoenix-suns) (1981-88) and the [Cleveland Cavaliers](https://www.edgepedia.org/cleveland-cavaliers) (1988-94), won the league's first [Slam Dunk Contest](https://www.edgepedia.org/slam-dunk-contest) in 1984, and was a three-time NBA All-Star.[1](https://www.nba.com/player/77685/larry-nance) • [2](https://www.noga.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Press-Release-INductees-719.pdf) • [3](https://apbr.org/sunshist.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1959; 6'10" (2.08 m), 205 lb; attended Clemson[1](https://www.nba.com/player/77685/larry-nance) |
| Draft | First round, 20th overall, by the Phoenix Suns, 1981 NBA Draft[1](https://www.nba.com/player/77685/larry-nance) • [4](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/nancela01.html) |
| Teams | Phoenix Suns 1981-88; Cleveland Cavaliers 1988-94[3](https://apbr.org/sunshist.html) • [5](https://clemsontigers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Clemson-Game-Notes-0114.pdf) |
| Signature honor | Winner of the inaugural NBA Slam Dunk Contest, All-Star Weekend, Denver, January 28, 1984[3](https://apbr.org/sunshist.html) • [6](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1923532-30-years-later-an-oral-history-of-the-nbas-first-slam-dunk-contest) |
| All-Star selections | Three (1985, 1989, 1993), twice with Cleveland[2](https://www.noga.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Press-Release-INductees-719.pdf) |
| Suns career averages | 17.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists per game[1](https://www.nba.com/player/77685/larry-nance) |
| Team record | 217 blocked shots for Phoenix in 1982-83, a Suns single-season record[3](https://apbr.org/sunshist.html) |
## Phoenix years, 1981-88
Phoenix drafted Nance with the 20th pick of the 1981 draft, selecting him on June 9, 1981.[4](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/nancela01.html) • [3](https://apbr.org/sunshist.html) He developed into what the Suns' historical record calls a dependable scorer and an outstanding defender and shot-blocker, with tremendous leaping ability.[3](https://apbr.org/sunshist.html) In 1982-83 he set a franchise single-season record with 217 blocked shots.[3](https://apbr.org/sunshist.html)
**The first dunk contest.** At the NBA All-Star Weekend in Denver on January 28, 1984, Nance won the league's inaugural Slam Dunk Contest, a competition the NBA introduced that season following a successful ABA tradition.[3](https://apbr.org/sunshist.html) • [7](https://as.com/us/us/2018/02/17/masdeporte/1518884892_821959.html) The nickname that followed him through his career, "Leapin' Larry," came from this dunking prowess.[2](https://www.noga.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Press-Release-INductees-719.pdf) He was also selected to his first [NBA All-Star Game](https://www.edgepedia.org/nba-all-star-game) in February 1985.[3](https://apbr.org/sunshist.html)
## The 1988 trade to Cleveland
On February 25, 1988, near the trade deadline, Phoenix sent Nance, fellow veteran forward Mike Sanders, and a 1988 first-round draft choice (used on Randolph Keys) to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In return the Suns received guard Kevin Johnson, forward Tyrone Corbin, center Mark West, Cleveland's 1988 first-round pick (used on [Dan Majerle](https://www.edgepedia.org/dan-majerle)), and second-round selections in 1988 and 1989.[3](https://apbr.org/sunshist.html) • [8](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-02-26-sp-30359-story.html) The deal reshaped both franchises: Phoenix rebuilt around Johnson and Majerle, while [Cleveland](https://www.edgepedia.org/cleveland) paired Nance with [Mark Price](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-price) and Brad Daugherty at the core of its strongest teams of the era.[3](https://apbr.org/sunshist.html) • [9](https://www.statitudes.com/p/is-larry-nance-a-hall-of-famer)
## Cleveland years, 1988-94
Nance played his final seven NBA seasons for the Cavaliers, where he was twice an All-Star (1989 and 1993) in addition to his 1985 selection with Phoenix.[2](https://www.noga.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Press-Release-INductees-719.pdf) His first full Cleveland season showed the two-way profile he carried there: in 1987-88 (the season of the trade) he averaged 16.2 points, 7.89 rebounds, and 2.33 blocks in 33.6 minutes over 27 games.[10](https://www.cavshistory.com/players/larry-nance/)
His career ended through injury.
## Playing style and legacy
Nance was known for shot-blocking and defense as much as for dunking.
His son, [Larry Nance Jr.](https://www.edgepedia.org/larry-nance-jr), a forward-center drafted in 2015, wears his father's retired No. 22 jersey with the Cavaliers in his honor.[11](https://www.nba.com/gamenotes/cavaliers.pdf)
## References
1. [Larry Nance player profile, NBA.com](https://www.nba.com/player/77685/larry-nance)
2. [Northeast Ohio Gameday / NOGA press release, Hall of Fame inductees (Larry Nance)](https://www.noga.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Press-Release-INductees-719.pdf)
3. [The Phoenix Suns History Site (Robert Bradley, APBR)](https://apbr.org/sunshist.html)
4. [Larry Nance Stats, Basketball-Reference.com](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/nancela01.html)
5. [Clemson Tigers game notes (NBA player statistics, Larry Nance 1981-94)](https://clemsontigers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Clemson-Game-Notes-0114.pdf)
6. [30 Years Later: An Oral History of the NBA's First Slam Dunk Contest, Bleacher Report](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1923532-30-years-later-an-oral-history-of-the-nbas-first-slam-dunk-contest)
7. [En el nombre del padre: Nance pone el morbo en los mates, AS.com](https://as.com/us/us/2018/02/17/masdeporte/1518884892_821959.html)
8. [The Phoenix Suns traded veteran forwards Larry Nance and Mike Sanders..., Los Angeles Times, February 26, 1988](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-02-26-sp-30359-story.html)
9. [Is Larry Nance a Hall of Famer? by Justin Kubatko, Statitudes](https://www.statitudes.com/p/is-larry-nance-a-hall-of-famer)
10. [CavsHistory: Larry Nance](https://www.cavshistory.com/players/larry-nance/)
11. [Cleveland Cavaliers 2025-26 game notes (Larry Nance Jr. player page)](https://www.nba.com/gamenotes/cavaliers.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Basketball and court team sports › Basketball players and coaches (biographies) › NBA players, 1980–1995 › NBA forwards, 1980–1995*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license