Jake LaRavia May Have Earned Himself A Starting Role

When the LA Lakers signed forward Jake LaRavia to a 2-year/$12 million contract as a free agent last summer, it wasn't seen as a big acquisition. Coming off a season in which he averaged 7 points and four rebounds between time spent in Memphis and Sacramento, LaRavia was seen as just bench depth.

While he has come off the bench for all but 12 of 33 games so far this season, LaRavia has made the most of his playing opportunity with the Lakers. The 24-year-old, fourth-year forward has been playing rock solid lately, and it's getting harder to imagine Coach JJ Redick sending him back to the bench when everyone's healthy.

LaRavia's recent stretch has been eye-opening. He dropped 26 points against Memphis on Sunday, hitting 56% from the field and 40% from three. A couple of nights before that, he put up 21 points with nine rebounds while playing lockdown defense. These aren't empty stats either, as the Lakers have won back-to-back games with him starting, and there's a noticeable energy shift when he's on the floor. These weren’t just fluke games, as LaRavia showed glimpses of his talent early in the year with a 27-point, 8-rebound game against Minnesota and a 25-point, 8-rebound performance against Miami. 

What makes LaRavia's surge particularly impressive is the timing. He struggled mightily in December, shooting just 26% from deep and looking lost at times. But instead of losing confidence, he focused on improving the small things with assistant coach Beau Levesque. That dedication is paying off exactly when the Lakers need it most, with Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura sidelined.

If LaRavia continues to provide valuable contributions on both ends of the court, this might not just be an injury replacement gig anymore. One Western Conference coach told Heavy Sports that LaRavia fits better alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic than Hachimura does. "Jake LaRavia is a lot more comfortable in that role, just playing with energy, playing that level of defense, and not needing plays to be called for him," the coach noted.

LaRavia's versatility as a two-way wing is exactly what the Lakers have been missing. He crashes the glass, guards multiple positions, and doesn't need the ball to impact games. When Hachimura returns, don't be surprised if the Lakers stick with what's working.