"Who Is Number 12?": Jake LaRavia Addresses Viral Moment Involving Anthony Edwards

Not all NBA players are A-list celebrities who are instantly recognizable on the street. Jake LaRavia had to learn this in a hilarious way.

During the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Minnesota Timberwolves last Wednesday, a fan yelled “Who is number 12?” during a free throw situation. The camera then panned to injured Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, who put his hands up as he sat on the bench. “That’s what I’m saying,” Edwards yelled back. “I don’t know!”

In a media availability this week, LaRavia addressed this moment, which has gone viral on social media. “I kinda played into it a little bit. I find that stuff funny because I am not well known at this moment. Head down, working hard is all I do.”

With LeBron James and Luka Doncic sitting out that matchup against the Timberwolves, LaRavia put in the extra effort as he stuffed the stat sheet. The 6-foot-8 forward was second only to Austin Reaves in scoring, putting up 27 points on an unbelievable 10-for-11 shooting clip. LaRavia also had eight rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block.

If LaRavia was fuelled by the fan’s ignorance of his identity, he let his game do the talking as he helped the Lakers pull off a 116-115 win over the Wolves, who eliminated them from the playoffs last season. Rather than express indignation, LaRavia sounded amused as he looked back at the exchange between Edwards and the Minnesota fan.

“Shoutout to Anthony Edwards for allowing that clip to go viral,” he said at the media session.

It’s true, however, that LaRavia has a bit of an uphill climb when it comes to standing out in a crowded Lakers frontcourt. Rui Hachimura is an offensive-minded forward just like him, while athletes like Jarred Vanderbilt, Deandre Ayton, and Jaxson Hayes can earn more minutes by imposing their will on the defensive end.

LaRavia, though, has a weapon that none of those forwards and centers have honed in their own right: three-point shooting. This season, the former Wake Forest standout is converting on 50% of his outside attempts. For supreme playmakers like James and Doncic, a sweet-shooting forward like LaRavia provides essential floor spacing.

Moving forward, LaRavia will have more opportunities to introduce himself to the NBA community. The viral moment with Edwards was helpful, but LaRavia’s scoring efficiency might just do the trick.