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After re-signing CJ McCollum, the New Orleans Pelicans have extended forward Larry Nance Jr's contract for further two years. The extension is worth $21.6 million as confirmed by his agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, told ESPN on Saturday.
The extension will be keeping Nance with the franchise through the 2024-2025 season, as the Pelicans secure their core including Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum on long-term deals. Reacting to the extension, Larry Nance Jr. expressed excitement and elation about the possibility of being with the team for two more years.
“It’s great,” Nance said. “Like I’ve said countless times since I’ve been here, the city’s been welcoming, the fans have been great and the organization has been outstanding. This is Year 8 for me (in the NBA). I’ve learned from the places I’ve been exactly what things I don’t want. This is exactly what I do want. So I took the chance to extend my stay.”
The former Cleveland Cavaliers player then expressed how he has been feeling 100% healthy after recovering from his meniscus injury. "I'm finally healthy," Nance said. "I played at the end of the season still recovering from the surgery. The meniscus surgery I had, I didn't realize how long that had been bothering me. I had lost a step, lost a little bit of balance and all that came back in the summer. I feel good. I feel better than I have the last few years."
Forward Zion Williamson also talked about Nance and CJ McCollum’s recent contract extensions and expressed that he’s happy to see New Orleans have a solid roster which has been together continuity for some amount of time.
“It’s great to see that, because I know my first three years, it was always a different cast of (players),” Williamson said. “To see some vet guys stay around and want to build something special, it means a lot. Last season after the final game, I said I just want to be a part of something special. To see CJ, Larry, some other guys stick around, I’m excited.”