For Larry Nance Jr., being traded back to Northeast Ohio to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers was a dream come true. Nance Jr. grew up watching his father play for the Cavs in the 1990's, and never thought he'd end up with the same team that retired his jersey two decades later.

The last year has hit the majority of the United States hard, and no one has seen the brunt of it more than small businesses throughout the country. That's why Larry Nance Jr. took it upon himself to try and help his communities.

In an exclusive interview with ClutchPointsĀ to talk about his small business initiative, Larry Nance Jr. explained also talked about a wide range of topics including his Cleveland Cavs, his time with LeBron James, and so much more.

ā€œIt started off as just kinda of a conversation in our training room, weā€™re talking about, ā€˜My Cause, My Cleats,' thing that the NFL does, how cool that is to get to represent different things that mean the most to them and weā€™re talking how we can bring that to the NBA,ā€ Nance Jr. explained. ā€œYou know we just kind of formed it into benefitting Cleveland. Cleveland is something that ā€” I grew up in Cleveland, Iā€™m from here I love these fans and all of these people so for me, obviously being very fortunate during the pandemic there were people that werenā€™t. The local businesses owners and the shop owners have to close down and have to keep paying rent on spaces that people arenā€™t allowed to go into. So theyā€™re hurting right now and I just want to do a little something to help boost, lift them up, lift Cleveland up and see how many people we could get to join in on the fight to lift us out of this. Itā€™s been going well.

ā€œJersey sales every single game are going over a thousand dollars. Weā€™re getting these businesses much needed relief in terms of the financial end, but also a lot of publicity, a lot of representation from that end as well. So itā€™s been exciting, Iā€™ve got another good business to wear tomorrow against Boston. Iā€™m just so thankful the way our community has embraced this.ā€

So far, Nance Jr. and the Cavs have played 25 games so far this season, and each game-worn jersey has been auctioned off and donated. In games that he hasn't played, Nance Jr. had a teammate give his jersey towards the cause. Nance Jr.'s also says his former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Josh Hart also bought a jersey in the auction.

ā€œItā€™s been great, opposing players come in to me and be like, ā€˜hey man this is awesome.' This is something that more people should do, same thing as fans, theyā€™ve been incredible. These jerseys are still going over a thousand dollars you know, it doesnā€™t have anything to do with me. Iā€™m just one guy, nobody wants 72 Larry Nance Jr. jerseys, but itā€™s more about the businesses that people are supporting so the jersey is just a cool incentive for that. I wouldnā€™t be able to be done without the people that areā€¦The people of Cleveland have been supporting thus far and Iā€™ll also be remiss by not giving a shoutout to Josh Hart who did bought one of the jerseys this year as well. Heā€™s been one of my best friends like since I got into the league. I guess that kinda goes show support that other players in the league have for it and you know stuff like that so hopefully weā€™ll see it gain some more attraction and you just keep boosting me, keep giving people some help.ā€

Here are just a few of the tweets Nance has posted supporting small businesses this season:

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You can watch to the full podcast with Cavs forward Larry Nance Jr. on YouTube: