Jake LaRavia played out of his mind against the Wolves. He not only scored 27 points in the win, but he converted on all but one shot from the field, finishing 10-11 overall.
LaRavia scored 17 of his points in the third to give the Lakers a commanding 20-point lead and his five 3-pointers were the most by any player in the game.
It was a much-needed performance as the Lakers, still shorthanded without Luka Dončić and LeBron James, are trying to survive early in the season. With Austin Reaves struggling
from the field, LaRavia could hardly have picked a better night for one of the best games of his career.
“Jake was monstrous,” Austin Reaves said postgame. “I think that’s the best basketball game I’ve seen him play since he’s been in the league.”
Reaves is right that this was a career performance. It was the fourth-most points he’s ever scored and, most importantly, they came in a win. Also, he’s never shot 90% from the field while taking double-digit attempts.
“Very early in his Laker career, but clearly his best game as a Laker,” head coach JJ Redick said. “I’m really happy for him. I know they showed the other day, I think it was the Amazon video, about reference points and for Jake as a Laker, this game is now a reference point.
“Not only for the offense – again, two of the last three games, he’s been phenomenal offensively – his activity level, deflections…he ended up with one steal and a block but that doesn’t really capture his level of activity defensively and then just continuing to have confidence in his shot and belief in that was big.”
The production from LaRavia won’t always be this high, but effort and willingness to attack can remain the same. When he provides this type of energy, great things can happen for himself and the Lakers.
Even after the best game of his life, LaRavia gave a lot of the credit for his success to Reaves.
“Austin had 16 assists, so I think [my points] all came from him,” LaRavia said. “I was knocking down shots and getting my rhythm and kept shooting. When they’re falling, they’re falling.”
Reaves, as the team’s primary ballhandler, certainly fed LaRvaia the ball a ton as he assisted five of LaRavia’s 10 makes. While that’s not all of LaRavia’s points, it was certainly a significant amount. And it was no coincidence that LaRavia was looking for his shot more on Wednesday.
“They have just been wanting me to be more aggressive scoring, especially with everyone that we have out,” LaRavia said. “Coming off last game where I really wasn’t really as aggressive and Portland played pretty physical and tough and I just kind let things happen, I had conversations with [Redick and Reaves] to just come out and play how I play and I did just that.”
Not every LaRavia game will be as incredible as Wednesday’s was. However, he can take some of this as a building block for the future.
Yes, he has a role, but part of that job is to get after it shooting-wise and be an offensive threat. That’s needed now and it’ll still be necessary once everyone is back.
LaRavia was a monster against the Wolves and if he takes the praise and trust Redick and Reaves have in him, he can have his best NBA season.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
