Jake LaRavia Steps Up as Lakers Find Balance Amid Injuries
Jake LaRavia is finally getting his moment with the Los Angeles Lakers — and it couldn’t have come at a better time. With Luka Doncic nursing a finger injury, Gabe Vincent dealing with an ankle issue, and Marcus Smart sidelined by a quadriceps strain, the Lakers needed someone to step up. And on Monday night, LaRavia was handed that opportunity, earning his first start of the season — and his first as a Laker.
Now, LaRavia isn’t exactly a household name in Los Angeles yet, but his performance so far this year shows why the coaching staff trusts him. Through his first three games of the 2025–26 season, he’s averaged about 7.3 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists in roughly 26 minutes a night. Modest numbers on paper, sure, but the real story lies in how he’s adapting to a bigger role — and showing flashes of the two-way player the Lakers were hoping for when they brought him in.
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LaRavia’s journey hasn’t been a straight line. In his first couple of appearances, he took only seven shots across 44 minutes — efficient, yes, but too hesitant for what the team needed from him. That changed in his third outing, where he became noticeably more aggressive. Even though he shot just 3-for-10 from the field, that willingness to attack made all the difference. He finished that game with 11 points, six rebounds, five assists, a steal, and two made threes — exactly the kind of balanced stat line that signals a player finding his rhythm.
It’s also clear that LaRavia’s impact goes beyond scoring. Defensively, he’s been active and physical, fitting right into the gritty identity that head coach Darvin Ham wants from his second unit. The Lakers’ bench has been solid on defense but inconsistent on offense, ranking near the bottom of the league in scoring last season. LaRavia’s assertiveness gives that group a much-needed scoring punch — something the team’s been craving for a while.
Of course, there’s still room for growth. Rookie Dalton Knecht could eventually earn more minutes as a pure scorer, but for now, LaRavia’s versatility gives him the edge. He’s showing he can handle both ends of the floor — creating plays for teammates while confidently taking his own shots.
What stands out most is his mindset shift. LaRavia looks like a player who finally “got the message” — that he doesn’t need to be a star, just reliable and ready. And with the Lakers battling through early-season injuries, that reliability is proving invaluable. It’s the kind of quiet breakthrough that doesn’t always make headlines but can absolutely change the tone of a team’s season.
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