The Lakers' forward shares excitement after first bucket from LeBron's pass in Tuesday's victory.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Jake LaRavia is making the most of his chance to share the court with one of basketball's all-time greats, and after Tuesday's 140-126 win over the Utah Jazz, he couldn't hide his excitement about the experience.
Speaking to Khobi Price of SoCal News Group at Lakers practice on Thursday, LaRavia expressed his appreciation for playing alongside LeBron James, a player he's watched his entire life. "I made my first shot that he passed to me, ever," LaRavia said. "So, I think we're on good standings. Hopefully, I get a lot more."
Building Chemistry with LeBron
The 24-year-old forward called the experience of playing with James "dope," and it's clear that LaRavia is taking full advantage of learning from the 40-year-old legend who's now in his record-breaking 23rd NBA season.
In Tuesday's victory over Utah, LaRavia contributed 16 points, four rebounds, and two assists in 26 minutes off the bench, showing the kind of versatility that has helped him carve out a bigger role with the Lakers this season.
The game marked James' season debut after missing the first 14 games due to sciatica, and the veteran superstar still managed 11 points and 12 assists in 30 minutes while orchestrating the Lakers' offense.
LaRavia's Strong Season Start
LaRavia has been one of the Lakers' most pleasant surprises this season, and his numbers back it up. Through 15 games, he's averaging 10.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 48.7% from the field.
While his counting stats tell part of the story, his advanced numbers show even more promise. LaRavia is posting a 12.9 Player Efficiency Rating and has already contributed 0.9 Win Shares despite seeing most of his minutes in a reserve role.
His 55.9% effective field goal percentage demonstrates his ability to finish plays efficiently, and his willingness to take on different assignments on both ends of the floor has made him a valuable piece in head coach JJ Redick's rotation.
The former Wake Forest standout has shown he can contribute whether he's starting or coming off the bench, and his ability to play multiple positions gives the Lakers lineup flexibility they desperately need.
Lakers Look to Continue Momentum
With an 11-4 record through their first 15 games, the Lakers are sitting in a strong position early in the season, and they'll look to build on Tuesday's impressive performance.
The team heads to Utah on Sunday for a rematch with the Jazz before returning home for a crucial NBA Cup matchup against the LA Clippers on Tuesday, November 25.
Following that, the Lakers will face the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, November 28, and the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, November 30, as they navigate a stretch of games that will test their depth and chemistry.
Having James back healthy, combined with LaRavia's continued development and contributions from Luka Dončić (who had 37 points and 10 assists against Utah) and Austin Reaves (26 points), gives Los Angeles multiple scoring options as they push to maintain their position near the top of the Western Conference standings.
For LaRavia, getting more opportunities to play alongside James and learn from his basketball IQ could be invaluable as the season progresses, and if Tuesday was any indication, the connection between the two is already paying dividends.