Larry Nance Jr. has a new home in Indiana, but his first week in a Pacers uniform was more about getting his footing than making a statement.
The Wyoming alumnus — who signed with Indiana this past offseason after a stint with the Lakers — suited up in his first regular-season games for the franchise during the week of October 18–24, as the Pacers opened their 2026-27 campaign. The debut was modest by design: Nance logged just five minutes in Indiana's season opener on Thursday, October 22, a 123-120 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, posting a minus-11 plus/minus in limited action. Two nights later against the Dallas Mavericks, he saw only one minute of floor time in a 105-121 loss, finishing with a minus-3.
The light workload isn't a surprise for a big man integrating into a new system. Nance, a power forward known for his energy, versatility, and defensive instincts, was one of the more quietly impactful signings of the offseason. ESPN's Shams Charania reported the deal on July 8, and Nance himself took to social media to mark the moment after inking the contract with Indiana.
At training camp, Nance was part of a crowded front-court rotation that head coach Rick Carlisle is still sorting out heading into the early season. The Pacers figure to lean on Nance for the switchable defense and hustle-play versatility that has defined his NBA career — contributions that don't always show up in a box score, especially in garbage-time minutes during the first week of the year.
The bigger-picture story for Cowboys fans is simply seeing a Wyoming product carve out continued relevance in the league. Nance has now appeared for multiple franchises across a lengthy NBA tenure, and landing in Indiana — a team with playoff aspirations built around a young core — gives him a meaningful stage heading into the season.
Fellow Wyoming alum Graham Ike remains on the Golden State Warriors roster, though Ike did not appear in game logs for the period.
It's a small sample, and Nance's role will likely clarify as Indiana's rotation sets. For now, the Cowboy faithful can pencil in Thursday nights and check the box score — even if the minutes are still coming in drips.
AI-generated summary
