The NBA’s new In-Season Tournament and the league’s annual springtime playoff bracket are all about surviving and advancing, but what about literal survival? When New Orleans players were asked to select one teammate to help them stay alive if they were stranded on a deserted island, numerous Pelicans received at least one mention, but a nine-year NBA veteran center/forward originally from Ohio edged the field by a narrow margin. Larry Nance Jr. garnered three mentions, just clearing his top competition, Herb Jones and Brandon Ingram. Here were all of the responses:
Dyson Daniels: “I’d probably take Larry. He’s smart. I’m from Australia, so we could work our magic. I could deal with all of the insects and spiders and stuff. He could deal with making the raft and making the tent.”
Jordan Hawkins: “Probably CJ. He’s pretty smart.”
Brandon Ingram: [laughs] “That would help me survive? It’s got to be someone I really, really like. I’m going to say Jose or Naji.”
Herb Jones: “I would pick Jonas.”
Kira Lewis Jr.: “Herb.”
E.J. Liddell: “I’m going to go with Trey Murphy. I feel like he has a wide variety of knowledge about a lot of things.”
Naji Marshall: [laughs] “BI. For real. I think he’d be the most (helpful). Him or Larry. Because Larry and I would have the same goal, trying to get out of there. Some people might get comfortable and give up, but Larry and I are going to find a way.”
Trey Murphy: “Probably Herb. He grew up very country, on farmland, so he’s probably fended for himself for a very long time. He can also fish, so I won’t have to do anything (to find food).”
Larry Nance Jr.: “Dyson. I feel like he has to have good survival skills, because everything in Australia is trying to kill you.”
Jonas Valanciunas: “BI (if I were stuck there).”
Cody Zeller: “There aren’t too many of them who I think would be able to build a shelter, or start a fire. Not many outdoorsy types. Maybe Larry.”
TOTAL “VOTES”: Larry Nance Jr. 3, Herb Jones 2, Brandon Ingram 2, Jose Alvarado 1, Dyson Daniels 1, Naji Marshall 1, CJ McCollum 1, Trey Murphy 1, Jonas Valanciunas 1.