CLEVELAND — When Larry Nance Jr. and CJ McCollum join forces in shooting competitions against some of their New Orleans Pelicans teammates, the duo is not shy about flaunting its Northeast Ohio roots.
"We'll go 330 versus everybody else," Nance told the Beacon Journal.
Yes, Nance and McCollum hail from the same area code, and they're major reasons the Pelicans are on pace for one of their best seasons in franchise history.
With a 113-103 loss to the Cavaliers on Monday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Pelicans dropped to 26-18, third in the NBA's Western Conference.
"Both CJ and Larry have brought leadership, No. 1," Pelicans coach Willie Green said. "They're high-character guys that are pros. They come in every day, and there's a standard that they set for themselves, for their teammates.
"CJ has a lot of scoring ability — his ability to be sort of diverse in roles that he can play. He can play off the ball. He can play with the ball his hand. He'll have nights when he scores big. He's also OK deferring to others when he needs to. Then Larry, he makes sure the team's better, just [with] his ability to guard [and] high IQ on the basketball floor. So both of those guys have brought a ton of value to our program."
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It's been nearly a year since the Portland Trail Blazers sent Nance and McCollum to the Pelicans in a trade on Feb. 8, 2022 .
Despite Nance , 30, graduating from Revere High School and McCollum , 31, graduating from GlenOak High School, they didn't know each other until the Trail Blazers acquired Nance from the Cavaliers (28-17) in a trade on Aug. 27, 2021. They have become good friends since then.
"To be teammates now on two different teams and to obviously practice together, travel together, you become closer," McCollum said. "You start getting dinners together. You start spending more time together. He's a really good dude, comes from a great family and obviously is a talented basketball player who has helped contribute to our team and is one of the reasons why we've been successful."
Nance is clearly the more popular of the two players among Cleveland fans. It's understandable because he's a former Cavs player (2018-21) and the son of a legendary Cleveland power forward. Larry Nance Sr. and other members of his family attended Monday's game.
When the younger Nance came off the bench to enter the action with three minutes left in the opening quarter, he received applause. The forward finished with four points (2-of-3 shooting from the field), three rebounds, three assists and a steal in 15 minutes.
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On the other hand, McCollum received a smattering of boos when Pelicans starters were announced during player introductions. After a slow start, the guard scored 14 of his team-high 25 points in the third quarter. He shot 8 of 20 from the field, including 3 of 9 on 3-pointers. He added four assists and committed four turnovers in 36 minutes.
"That's my guy," Nance said. "On the road, we do just about everything together. Good people gravitate to one another. I've enjoyed getting to be around and meet him and his family, and it's been something I really enjoy."
McCollum didn't exactly endear himself to the crowd in his homecoming game, though.
His right arm whacked small forward Isaac Okoro in the head while the latter attempted a fast-break layup with 4:28 left in the second quarter. The officials ruled it was a common foul after reviewing replays for a flagrant. Then with 1:14 left in the game, McCollum received a technical foul for voicing his displeasure to an official because he thought Okoro had fouled him as he drove to the basket.
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Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff liked the defensive effort Okoro gave against McCollum.
"Isaac's going to fight. He's going to make it difficult," Bickerstaff said. "Some of these guys, they are the greatest offensive players in the world. CJ's one of the most talented offensive players we have in this league, but I thought Isaac did a really job of just making it tough. He had to take 20 shots to get 25 points. That means you're doing your job."
No matter how Cavs fans feel about them as the opposition, Nance and McCollum are loyal to the places they call home.
"It's just the pride in coming from this area, where it's blue collar and you've got to work for everything that you want in life," McCollum said. "You have a great understanding and appreciation of genuinely honest and nice people. You travel all over the world, and the loyalty that these fans have to sports and to the people that come from here, especially when you embrace it, I think is unlike anything we've seen."
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Monday's game was the first for Nance and McCollum in Cleveland as members of the Pelicans, but they played for the Trail Blazers in a 107-104 road loss to the Cavs on Nov. 3, 2021.
"Anytime I get to come back home is always circled on my calendar," Nance said.
McCollum's family, including brother Errick, who plays professional basketball in Turkey, and hunger relief partner Goodr held a free pop-up grocery market Sunday in Stark County .
"This is a place that's near and dear to our hearts," McCollum said. "We were born and raised in Canton. We understand the importance of giving back to the community you come from, but also the resources that may be lacking in that area.
"It's a point of emphasis for us and something that we feel like we can impact consistently in partnership with Goodr. We provided meals for over a week for over 400 families, which is really awesome, and it's something that we take pride in and we're thankful we're able to do."
During his Cavs days, Nance helped local small businesses hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. This season, he's auctioning off his game-worn Pelicans jerseys from every home game, matching the funds raised and donating the proceeds to NOLA Public Schools.
"That's something that I always try to set out to do no matter what community I'm in," Nance said. "I've been incredibly fortunate with the life I've been given, so trying to give back and use this platform for good is paramount in my book.
"It started in Cleveland with the small business initiative , and that went so well. It kind of affected and touched a lot of people. I wanted to do something similar in New Orleans. The New Orleans public school system really needs some love and a champion, so I'm trying to be that."
Nance and McCollum said they're pleased with their transitions to the Pelicans, even though injuries are plaguing the team. Brandon Ingram has been out since Nov. 25 with a toe contusion, and Zion Williamson has missed the past seven games with a strained hamstring.
"Brandon hasn't played in eight weeks, and Zion has missed a slew of games this year," said Nance, who's averaging 7.7 points and 5.6 rebounds a game this season. "We haven't had an easy road, an easy path whatsoever, and we're still maintaining. That's pretty exciting, in my opinion. I don't know how good we can be, but third in the West without two All Stars is exciting."
Williamson leads the Pelicans with 26 points per game, followed by McCollum (21.3) and Ingram (20.8). McCollum leads the team with 5.9 assists a game.
"I've enjoyed the role that I've played on this team," McCollum said. "I've enjoyed getting to know everybody and figuring out ways to contribute, not only to the team on the court, but the city off the court. So it's been everything I could have asked for and more."
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McCollum has advocated for his fellow players as president of the National Basketball Players Association. He was elected to lead the union in August 2021. Bickerstaff called McCollum "a role model" to his peers.
"It's very demanding," McCollum said. "It's a lot of work, but I've enjoyed the process of learning more about the NBA, learning about the business of the NBA and ways in which we can collectively bargain and make our game and our sport better."
McCollum has communicated with former Browns center JC Tretter about is role as the president of the NFL Players Association .
"We've talked some, not as much as I would've liked, but as an avid Browns fan I was aware [Tretter had been chosen to lead the NFLPA in 2020]," McCollum said. "I'm always watching from afar to see how things are progressing for him and the guys in the NFL."
And people from the old stomping grounds of Nance and McCollum will continue to monitor their careers, too.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com.
On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ohio ties bond Larry Nance Jr., CJ McCollum with New Orleans Pelicans
