Luka Doncic said on Apr. 2 that Jake LaRavia has been a key contributor for the Los Angeles Lakers, especially during their recent victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. LaRavia, who started in place of Marcus Smart, made all five of his shots and finished with 14 points and seven rebounds.
LaRavia’s performance comes after several weeks of shooting struggles. Despite these challenges, he continued to help the team in other areas. “Yeah, I mean, it was great today, but he’s been playing great for us,” Doncic said after the win over Cleveland. “You know, sometimes you are not going to make shots, but he can play the game and do other things. So, he’s been doing that every game, so we appreciate what he’s doing for us.”
Although LaRavia shot just 24% from three-point range in March and averaged five points per game during that month, his defensive energy and rebounding have kept him in the rotation. In March alone, he recorded seven games with at least four rebounds and five games with at least two combined steals and blocks.
With Marcus Smart still out due to injury—set to miss his sixth consecutive game—LaRavia is expected to remain in the starting lineup when the Lakers face the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Lakers continue to rely on players embracing their roles as they work through injuries this season.