Cavaliers’ Larry Nance Jr. rolls out weekly show spotlighting NBA players’ love of soccer
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Cleveland Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. is launching “Switch the Play,” a weekly digital program created with the Men in Blazers Media Network to showcase NBA players who closely follow international soccer.
The series premieres Thursday and opens with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso. Each episode will feature current NBA players discussing their soccer allegiance, similarities between the two sports, and how the global game influences their careers.
“I entered the NBA in 2015, and I was probably one of only a couple of guys in the league that could tell you who won the Premier League the previous season,” Nance said. “Now, soccer is a constant conversation starter in the locker room.”
High-profile NBA stars who closely track soccer include Victor Wembanyama, Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, Luka Doncic, James Harden and Joel Embiid. Wembanyama attended a Paris Saint-Germain match last season, while Lionel Messi and other Inter Miami players have been spotted courtside at Miami Heat games.
The NBA has borrowed from soccer culture as well, introducing the in-season “NBA Cup,” a concept inspired partly by European cup competitions.
Nance played soccer at Revere High School until age 16 and became a part-owner of Premier League club Leeds United in 2023. He returned to Cleveland in July for his second stint with the Cavaliers after playing for the franchise from 2018 to 2021.
Source: Hoops Wire
