Jake LaRavia's first season with the Los Angeles Lakers was a rollercoaster of highs and lows. The Lakers forward had several moments of delivering on scaling up his minutes and role throughout the regular season. The 24-year-old also played himself off the court in the postseason with an abysmal shooting display resembling that of rarely being able to toss a small rock into the Pacific Ocean.
2026-27 will be about finding consistency. The mental aspect of the game was a clear focus for the young forward during the summer. That was one of the main things LaRavia pointed out when speaking to reporters at Lakers Media Day on Monday.
"Sometimes when you ride the wave on the highs a little bit too much the lows feel a lot worse. ... The main thing that I'm focused on this season is just kind of being at one level regardless of the highs and lows."
If LaRavia wants to carve out a role for himself — perhaps even secure a starting gig — with the Lakers this season, finding that balance will be imperative. There is value to be found in his game. If the offense stays consistent enough, his defense can shine in the rotation.
Staying consistent is absolutely necessary for Jake LaRavia's Lakers success
LaRavia touched on his second-half struggles last season as a mentally-driven hurdle that roughened the end to the campaign for him. Shooting 33.3 percent from the field in the playoffs was certainly brutal. As was getting benched altogether in the series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The most effective 3-and-D guys will start beside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. That was something LaRavia understood and openly talked about at the presser. He is missing a crucial component of that equation right now.
LaRavia's defense is solid. Heck, that might even be an undersell for what his best nights look like on that end. Maintaining steady offensive production will be the challenge for him.
42.3 percent was what LaRavia shot in the season before his arrival in Los Angeles. It was on limited volume of 2.2 attempts per game from deep, but it was still encouraging nonetheless.
The Lakers will not ask LaRavia to suddenly become a microwave marksman from deep. However, hitting the open ones will be important for JJ Redick to feel comfortable featuring him in extended minutes. The young forward was terrible on those shot last season, hitting only 29.9 percent when his closest defender was more than six feet away.
If LaRavia can manage to find the middle ground between 2025-26 and 2024-25 as a shooter, that is a player who can make his case for a starting job in Los Angeles. Remember, Redick said he would not complete that lineup with two white guys.
That gives LaRavia an opening. He already sounds completely understanding of what it will take to see the floor this season.
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