Pete Nance Bio
Pete Lucas Nance, known as Pete Nance, is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association on a two-way contract with the Wisconsin Herd of the NBA G League. Born on February 19, 2000, in Akron, Ohio, Nance has built a reputation as a versatile power forward capable of stretching the floor and contributing across multiple categories. After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, he began his professional career in the Cleveland Cavaliers organization and later made brief NBA appearances with the Philadelphia 76ers before landing in Milwaukee. He played college basketball at Northwestern and North Carolina, finishing his collegiate career in the 2022-23 season.
Early Life and Background
Pete Lucas Nance was born on February 19, 2000, in Akron, Ohio, and grew up in a household defined by basketball excellence. He is the son of Larry Nance, a former NBA All-Star and three-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection, and the younger brother of Larry Nance Jr., who has also played in the NBA. Nance also has an older sister named Casey, and the family environment provided early and constant exposure to high-level competition and professional preparation habits. Listed at 6 feet 9 inches and 225 pounds, Nance developed into a highly regarded multi-sport athlete during his formative years in northeast Ohio.
Nance attended Revere High School in Richfield, Ohio, where he quickly emerged as one of the top high school prospects in the state. In his senior season, he stood 6 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 205 pounds, and he led Revere to its first district championship. His performance that year earned him the Ohio Division II Player of the Year award, and he finished as a four-star recruit ranked as the highest-rated signee in Northwestern program history. Scout.com ranked him as the 83rd-best overall player and the 19th-best power forward in the country, while 247Sports ranked him 64th overall. On June 29, 2017, Nance committed to Northwestern, declining scholarship offers from Michigan and Ohio State.
Path to Basketball
Nance debuted for the Northwestern Wildcats in an exhibition game against the McKendree Bearcats, recording 12 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and four steals in 19 minutes off the bench. In his first regular-season college game, he scored three points and provided one assist in a win against the New Orleans Privateers, and he earned his first collegiate start in an 80-60 loss to the Michigan Wolverines. As a sophomore, he averaged 8.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, and as a junior he lifted his production to 11.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. A missed game against Michigan State on January 15, 2022, due to an ankle injury briefly slowed his progress.
Entering his senior season, Nance averaged 14.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game before testing the waters in the 2022 NBA draft. After electing to return to college, he transferred to North Carolina to use his extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA following the COVID-19 pandemic. With the Tar Heels, Nance immediately became a starter and started all 30 games in which he played, averaging 10 points and 6 rebounds per game while shooting 42 percent from the floor. A nagging back injury caused him to miss a handful of contests, but he remained a key part of the rotation on a team that had been national runners-up the prior season.
Pete Nance Career
Early Career (2023-2024)
After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, Nance joined the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2023 NBA Summer League and signed with the Cavaliers on September 13, 2023. He was waived on October 21, 2023, and one week later signed with the Cleveland Charge of the NBA G League. On January 18, 2024, he signed a 10-day contract with the Cavaliers, becoming the third member of the Nance family to play for the franchise after his father Larry and brother Larry Jr. Nance returned to the Charge on January 30 and then signed a two-way contract with the Cavaliers on February 19, 2024, his birthday.
On September 24, 2024, Nance signed a standard contract with the Cavaliers but was waived on October 19, 2024, and re-joined the Charge seven days later. The early portion of his professional career was defined by shuttling between the Cavaliers and their G League affiliate, a common path for undrafted prospects working to establish a foothold in the league. Through those stints, Nance continued to refine his shooting, defensive versatility, and comfort operating as a small-ball power forward.
Cleveland Cavaliers and Charge Breakthrough (2023-2025)
Nance’s breakthrough came in the 2023-24 season when he parlayed his G League play into NBA opportunities with the Cleveland Cavaliers. His 10-day contract in January 2024 marked his first NBA action, and his subsequent two-way deal gave him a sustained pathway between Cleveland and the Charge. The arrangement allowed him to log significant minutes in the G League while remaining eligible for NBA call-ups, and he used the platform to showcase his three-point shooting and floor-spacing ability.
The 2024-25 campaign brought further movement across the league. On December 3, 2024, Nance signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, only to be waived on January 7, 2025. He returned to the Cleveland Charge three days later before signing another two-way deal with Philadelphia on January 14, 2025. On February 6, 2025, he was waived as part of the Jared Butler trade, ending his second stint with the 76ers. Those experiences gave Nance exposure to multiple organizations and playing styles within a single season.
Milwaukee Bucks Era (2025-Present)
On February 28, 2025, Nance signed a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, opening the next chapter of his career. He made six appearances, including one start, during the remainder of that year, averaging 3.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. The Bucks then converted his two-way contract into a multiyear standard contract on March 23, 2026, signaling their long-term commitment to his development. In the 2025-26 NBA season, Nance made 47 total appearances, including six starts, recording averages of 5.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game while operating primarily as a stretch forward off the bench.
Driving Style and Strengths
Nance profiles as a modern, positionless power forward whose primary value comes from floor spacing and connective play. He shoots the three at a reliable clip for his size, can attack closeouts off the dribble, and reads the game well as a passer from the elbows and short roll. Defensively, he uses his length and mobility to switch across multiple positions, and he has shown comfort defending in space alongside smaller lineups.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Nance became the third member of the Nance family to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers when he signed his 10-day contract in January 2024, joining his father Larry and brother Larry Jr. in franchise history. He also celebrated his two-way contract signing on his own birthday, February 19, 2024. The March 2026 conversion of his two-way deal into a multiyear standard contract with the Milwaukee Bucks stands as his most significant professional milestone to date.
Pete Nance Career Wins
Because Pete Nance went undrafted in 2023 and has spent his professional career primarily in the NBA G League and on two-way deals, traditional championship and win totals at the NBA level remain limited. His most meaningful on-court achievements have come in the form of NBA contracts secured, multi-affiliate playing time, and the trust shown by the Milwaukee Bucks in converting his two-way deal into a multiyear standard contract.
NBA and G League Highlights
Nance’s NBA career began with the Cleveland Cavaliers in January 2024, and he went on to make brief appearances with the Philadelphia 76ers before establishing himself with the Milwaukee Bucks. Across his NBA stints, he has appeared in regular-season games for the Cavaliers, 76ers, and Bucks, demonstrating the versatility that organizations value in a depth forward.
Other Wins and Performances
At the collegiate level, Nance helped lead Revere High School to its first district championship and was named Ohio Division II Player of the Year as a senior. He then became the highest-ranked recruit in Northwestern program history and went on to start for a North Carolina team coming off a national runner-up finish. Those accomplishments laid the foundation for his professional opportunity.
Pete Nance Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Pete Nance is the son of Larry Nance, a three-time NBA All-Star and former NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion, and the younger brother of Larry Nance Jr., who has also played in the NBA. The Nance family is one of the more recognized basketball lineages in the league, and Pete became the third member of his family to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers when he signed a 10-day contract in January 2024. He also has an older sister named Casey. Growing up around the game clearly shaped his path toward a professional career.
Personal Life
Public details about Pete Nance’s personal life, including marital status and residence, are not widely documented in verified sources. He was born and raised in the Akron, Ohio area and attended Revere High School in nearby Richfield, and his family ties remain central to his public profile as a professional athlete.
2025 Season Performance
Pete Nance’s 2025 calendar year was defined by movement across three NBA organizations and a stabilizing landing spot in Milwaukee. He split time between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Charge early in the year, signed two-way deals with the Philadelphia 76ers in December 2024 and again in January 2025, and was waived as part of the Jared Butler trade on February 6, 2025. Three weeks later, he signed a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he carved out a role as a stretch forward off the bench.
During the remainder of the 2024-25 NBA season, Nance made six appearances for Milwaukee, including one start, and averaged 3.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. The Bucks rewarded that production by converting his two-way contract into a multiyear standard deal on March 23, 2026, validating his fit within their system. Across the 2025-26 NBA season, he appeared in 47 games with six starts and posted averages of 5.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game, reinforcing his standing as a reliable depth piece.
Looking ahead, Nance’s outlook with the Bucks centers on continuing to expand his offensive role as a floor-spacing power forward while contributing on the defensive glass. His multiyear contract provides security and a clearer development runway, and his shooting and switchability figure to remain valuable in Milwaukee’s lineups. With consistent health and steady minutes, he has an opportunity to grow from a rotation reserve into a longer-term NBA contributor.
