Jake LaRavia must do something for the Lakers he's never done before

Jake LaRavia proved in 2024-25 that his 3-point shooting had taken a much-needed leap in its efficiency. For the Los Angeles Lakers, the new addition must now show his capability of delivering that same effectiveness from beyond the arc on a much higher volume.

LaRavia shot 42.3 percent from deep last season, splitting time between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Sacramento Kings. That would be celebrated as a massive win, if it were not for the fact those numbers came on only 2.2 attempts per game from 3-point land.

That, in itself, was a notable drop-off from the 2023-24 season when LaRavia put up 4.5 attempts from distance. The new Lakers wing can certainly be credited for taking smart shots, and capitalizing on those looks. However, there will be no doubt that Los Angeles will want to see the number of attempts increase.

Luka Doncic has always thrived with 3-point specialists. Likewise, shooters have an easy time with the quality of looks created by the Lakers superstar. When those opportunities come LaRavia's way, the two-way wing will need to be confident about putting them up and knocking them down accordingly.

Los Angeles needs LaRavia to let it fly from deep

LaRavia has flown under the radar as a major addition for the Lakers, despite being the first new arrival they locked down in free agency. LeBron James needed to remind reporters at Media Day that the 23-year-old was among the key additions during the offseason.

Still, there is an inescapable feeling that LaRavia is one of those players who will quickly establish himself as a recognizable name on the Lakers once the season starts. His teammates raved about him throughout Media Day. Austin Reaves, in particular, delivered a glowing review.

Reave said, "I honestly think Jake’s gonna have a really, really, really good season. His size, his speed, his athleticism, he can guard almost every position on the floor. If you go back and watch him when he was in Memphis or ... [Sacramento], ... he had really, really good performances."

The Lakers star guard was happy to sing the praises of his new teammate on the defensive end. Ensuring definitive two-way impact will quickly bump LaRavia up in minutes once the season gets going.

Following the All-Star break, while the Lakers were adapting to a Luka-led brand of offense, the team shot 46.9 of their looks from beyond the arc. That was the fourth highest figure in the NBA.

If JJ Redick will be looking to replicate that kind of aerial assault from 3-point, LaRavia must let it fly when the ball finds him. The more those shots drop, the more well-known his name will be in Los Angeles.