Larry Nance Jr. has become accustomed to the high-stakes intensity and stress of basketball championships through his experiences in high school and college; this year, however, he takes on an even higher level of intensity by playing in the NBA playoffs for the first time. Six years ago, Larry Nance Jr. played basketball for Revere High School in the 2011 district championships; he now has returned to the Northeast Ohio area—but to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA playoffs.

After graduating from Revere High School in 2011, Larry Nance Jr. attended and played basketball at the University of Wyoming. The Los Angeles Lakers drafted Nance Jr. in 2015, just after he graduated from the University of Wyoming. On February 8 of this year, the Lakers traded Nance Jr. to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He carries on the legacy of his father, former NBA player Larry Nance Sr., by playing for the Cavs. The news of Nance Jr.’s homecoming surprised the Nance family; Larry Nance Jr.’s brother and Revere High School senior Pete Nance found out about the news during lunch one school day.

One typical school day senior Pete Nance received a text from his mother indicating that his brother, who had not been home in seven years, would return home. Pete Nance said that he felt extremely surprised but equally excited when he found out that his brother Larry Nance Jr. would return home to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers, his father’s former team. Pete Nance commented on Larry Nance Jr.’s unexpected homecoming.

“It was a complete surprise. It just came out of the blue, but I was really happy about it for sure,” Nance said.

Like many younger siblings, Pete Nance had to deal with his brother going away to college. After graduating from college, Larry Nance Jr. moved to California while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving Pete Nance without his brother for an additional three years. Pete Nance indicated why he felt so excited when he found out about his brother’s return home.

“My brother went to Wyoming for four years, then he lived in California for three. . . . He hadn’t been home in seven years, so I was just really excited to have my big brother home,” Nance said.

Nance also noted that Larry Nance Jr. wears his father’s retired jersey number. Nance Sr.’s jersey was retired by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1995, but Nance Jr. will wear his father’s number–number 22–when playing for the Cavaliers. Pete Nance mentioned this history-making event.

“That’s the first time . . . in NBA history that’s ever happened–where they brought a jersey down so somebody could wear it. It’s pretty cool of my dad to let him wear that. I think it’s pretty awesome,” Nance said.

Not only did Larry Nance Sr. let his son wear his retired jersey number, Nance Sr. actually asked the Cavs to give Nance Jr. the retired number 22.

“When he called me and told me about being traded to the Cavs, the next thing I did was call the Cavs to see if he could wear my retired #22,” Nance Sr. said.

The number 22 holds great significance to the Nance family. Larry Nance Sr. and all three of the Nance children wore this number in high school and college. Casey Nance, Larry Nance Jr., and Pete Nance all sported number 22 when playing for Revere. Casey Nance, who became the coach of Revere’s girls basketball team earlier this year, wore it at the University of Dayton. Larry Jr. wore it at the University of Wyoming, and Pete will wear it at Northwestern University. Larry Nance Sr. wore number 22 during his professional basketball career, and now Larry Nance Jr. will carry on this legacy by wearing number 22 for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Larry Nance Jr.’s mother Jaynee Nance expressed her pride in her son’s accomplishments in the NBA, noting that this year marks Larry Nance Jr.’s NBA playoffs debut. Jaynee Nance also also mentioned her excitement about her son’s homecoming.

“I’m so happy for him because he’s never had the chance to feel the excitement of the playoffs. . . . We were already so proud and happy that Larry Jr. made it to the NBA. He worked so hard to get there, and it’s such an elite group of athletes. But to have him come back home and play for the Cavs is just more than we could ever ask for,” she said.

Larry Nance Sr. noted that watching his son playing in the NBA playoffs reminded him of his own experiences competing in the NBA playoffs.

“I’m so happy for him to get this opportunity, but I also have a huge case of butterflies in my stomach for every game. I remember how it feels to be on that court–there’s nothing like it,” Nance Sr. said.

Pete Nance described his admiration for his brother. He noted that he and Larry have talked about their dreams of playing in the NBA for most of their lives.

“To see him living out his dream and doing something that [he and I] have always wanted to do is pretty cool, and I admire him for that for sure,” Nance said.

Due to the busy schedule of the NBA playoffs, Larry Nance Jr. was unable for direct comment. He told FOX Sports Ohio that returning home to the Cleveland area afforded him the opportunity to watch his younger brother Pete Nance play when the Revere High School men’s basketball team competed in the playoffs. Now it is Pete’s turn to watch his brother compete.

Pete Nance said that he has enjoyed watching his brother play in the NBA playoffs so far. Larry Nance Jr. continues playing in basketball championships–this time in the NBA for the Cleveland Cavaliers.