The Los Angeles Lakers' recent offseason acquisition Jake LaRavia believes he can become one of the NBA’s elite three-point shooters, and he thinks JJ Redick is the coach who can get him there.
“I think he can maximize my game into where I’m taking more attempts per game, maintaining that 40 percent 3-point shooting average, and then just becoming an elite shooter at a high volume,” LaRavia said in an interview with Lakers Nation’s Trevor Lane and Daniel Starkand.
Redick’s blueprint for elite shooting
Last season, LaRavia quietly shot 42.3 percent from deep while splitting time between the Sacramento Kings and the Memphis Grizzlies. He did not have a big role, but his efficiency was undeniable.
In Los Angeles, LaRavia might finally get the green light to shoot more consistently under a head coach who built a career on getting open and knocking down shots from every angle. It helps that Redick’s reputation as one of the league’s smartest shooters is not lost on his new player.
“When we were on the phone and he had first called me, I told him, ‘Dude, I used to watch you.’ It’s so cool for that to happen in any way,” LaRavia admitted.
LaRavia could be a tantalizing weapon for the Lakers offense
This goes beyond admiration; it is about alignment. Redick’s offense this season should prioritize spacing and movement. That fits LaRavia to a tee. He is a high-IQ forward who understands how to read defences, find gaps, and knock down shots without needing the ball in his hands.
At 6' 8", LaRavia averaged 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 66 games last season. Those numbers won’t jump off the page, but that is because he was not given many looks.
That should not be a problem going into the 2025-26 season. That is especially true with LeBron James and Luka Doncic collapsing defenses and creating clean looks all over the floor.
LaRavia’s sky-high potential
At just 23 years old, LaRavia still has plenty of room to continue to grow. With Redick teaching him how to read defenses, improve his movement, and adjust to the NBA’s increasing pace, the potential is limitless.
He has the potential not only to improve his shooting numbers. It is also about actually becoming a real, high-impact floor spacer who can elevate the Lakers’ offense.
The belief is there. The fit is there. And if the volume follows the efficiency, Jake LaRavia might just become the shooter the Lakers did not know they had.