Larry Nance Jr. has had a front-row seat to two very different eras of NBA greatness - and two of the most iconic players the league has ever seen. Not many guys can say they’ve shared the locker room with both Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, but Nance, a former Los Angeles Lakers draft pick, can. And now, 10 years into his NBA career, he’s offering a rare, inside look at what it was like to play alongside both legends.
Nance’s rookie year just happened to be Bryant’s final season in the league - a farewell tour that was anything but ceremonial behind the scenes. Even in Year 20, Kobe wasn’t coasting. He was still the Black Mamba, still setting a tone, still demanding excellence from everyone around him.
“Kobe was more so like a force when he walked in,” Nance said during a recent appearance on the Ball in the Family podcast with Lonzo and Gelo Ball. “When he walked in, you felt that he was there. Like my shoes need to be tied, let me get my locker clean, I can’t be the one that gets signaled out today.”
That’s vintage Kobe - a player who didn’t just lead by example but by presence. His intensity was palpable.
He ran a tight ship, and there was no mistaking who set the standard in that Lakers locker room. That approach helped deliver five championships and a legacy that still looms large over the franchise.
Fast forward to 2018, when Nance found himself traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers - and suddenly playing next to another all-time great in LeBron James. The Cavs were in the middle of another Finals push, and LeBron was still very much in his prime. But the vibe was different.
“Bron is more so one of the guys,” Nance said. “He’s a big kid, which endears you to him even more.”
That contrast in leadership style is striking. Where Kobe brought a militaristic edge - all discipline, all business - LeBron leads with connectivity.
He’s the guy cracking jokes, dancing in warmups, and keeping the mood light. But make no mistake, when it’s time to lock in, LeBron knows how to flip the switch.
It’s just that he builds camaraderie first, then demands accountability.
And that’s not a knock on either approach - both have proven wildly successful. Kobe’s fire forged one of the most relentless mentalities the game has ever seen.
LeBron’s blend of joy and focus has kept him at the top for over two decades. Different paths, same destination: greatness.
In today’s NBA, where team chemistry can make or break a season, that balance matters more than ever. The grind of an 82-game schedule - plus playoffs - means leaders have to find ways to keep things loose without losing the competitive edge. LeBron, now in his 23rd season, seems to have mastered that balance.
With his playing days winding down, James has made it clear: he’s focused on winning, no matter what role he’s asked to play. Whether he’s the engine or the closer, the vocal leader or the steadying veteran presence, it’s all about chasing that elusive fifth ring.
And for a player who’s spent his career adapting - from high school phenom to Finals MVP, from Miami’s Big Three to Cleveland’s hometown hero, and now the face of the Lakers - it’s no surprise he’s willing to evolve once again if it means another shot at a title.
Larry Nance Jr. has seen both sides of the leadership coin: the unrelenting, no-nonsense intensity of Kobe Bryant and the inclusive, joyful command of LeBron James. Two very different styles. One shared result - greatness.