The Los Angeles Lakers are getting set for the 2025-26 NBA season.
With all of the drama surrounding LeBron James and his pending retirement, the Los Angeles Lakers are focused on winning a championship with Luka Doncic in the mix.
Doncic spent this offseason getting into great shape and he seems eager to prove the naysayers wrong.
Meanwhile, Austin Reaves is entering a contract year and he could be poised for his best season to date.
Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty ImagesAustin Reaves says Jake LaRavia can ‘be somebody’ that the Los Angeles Lakers ‘really need’
The Lakers made some nice additions in the offseason that should complement their big three of Doncic, James and Reaves.
The Lakers signed DeAndre Ayton, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia.
LaRavia is good friends with Reaves and he projects to be a key player in the Lakers rotation this season.
However, Reaves noted that LaRavia hasn’t been playing to the standard he wants to as he adjusts to his new role. But that doesn’t mean the Lakers don’t have high hopes for him going forward.
“I think he’s been great. Obviously, there’s some things here and there that he hasn’t done to the standard that I’m sure he wants to, but at the same time, it’s not easy to come into a new team and be really, really good off the get go.
“He’s got a lot of promise, and he can be somebody that we really need on this team.
“We know he can do that, and now we just keep encouraging him to do that.”
Jake LaRavia’s career stats
LaRavia was selected 19th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves before having his draft rights traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.
LaRavia’s best season came in 2023-24 where he averaged 10.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 35 games with Memphis.
He was then traded to the Sacramento Kings the following season as part of a three-team deal involving the Washington Wizards.
LaRavia has averaged 6.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 136 regular-season games. The Lakers signed him in the offseason to a two-year, $12 million contract.