NBA

Lakers’ Jake LaRavia believes head coach JJ Redick can help ‘maximize’ his game

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Zach Wolpin
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Zach Wolpin Sports Editor

Zach Wolpin is an NBA and NFL expert who's been betting on the league for over three years now. Wolpin has been a fan of the NBA and has been watching for a decade and a half. He covers the latest news and stories surrounding the league daily. His passion in life is watching sports and being able to share that through his sports writing. He has written about the NBA and other sports leagues through various media outlets over the years like Sir Charles In Charge, G-Men HQ, and TAP into South Plainfield. Before he became an NBA News Writer, Wolpin attended Montclair State University where he graduated in 2021. He studied Sports Media and Writing while in school.

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Sports Editor

Updated5 hours ago on July 21, 2025

Jake LaRavia Kings pic

The Los Angeles Lakers are in a transition period. LeBron James is 40 years old and is one of the most respected players in league history. However, the Lakers traded for 26-year-old Luka Doncic last offseason. 

Luka is their long-term future, and the team is trying to build around him, not James. This offseason, the Lakers have brought in Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, and Marcus Smart. Recently, LaRavia spoke with Trevor Lane and Daniel Starkand of Lakers Nation. LaRavia told them that he is excited to work with head coach JJ Redick. He believes Redick can help him “maximize” his game.

Jake LaRavia will be a quality role player for the Lakers in 2025-26


With the 19th pick in the 2022 NBA draft, Jake LaRavia was selected by the Timberwolves out of Wake Forest. On draft night, Minnesota traded LaRavia to the Grizzlies. That’s where the 23-year-old spent the three-and-a-half seasons of his career. LaRavia played in 117 games for Memphis and made six starts. During the 2024-25 season, LaRavia was traded by the Grizzlies to the Kings.

The former first-round pick played in 19 games for Sacramento. This offseason, LaRavia was an unrestricted free agent. He signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. Over his four-year career, Jake LaRavia averages 6.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. Additionally, he shoots a solid .371% from beyond the arc.

Recently, LaRavia spoke with Lakers Nation and said he’s excited to join head coach JJ Redick. LaRavia believes Redick can help him ‘maximize’ his game. The young PF wants to take more three-pointers in the game while maintaining a three-point percentage of over .400. In splitting time with the Grizzlies and Kings last season, LaRavia averaged .423% on his three-pointers. As a six-foot-eight forward with an efficient three-point shot, LaRavia has value on the Lakers’ roster. Jake LaRavia spoke with JJ Redick upon arriving in LA and told him he used to watch his film. It’s a full-circle moment for the former first-round pick.