Jake LaRavia Proud to Be Lakers’ Only Ironman in 2025-26 Season
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Los Angeles Lakers forward Jake LaRavia finished the 2025-26 regular season as the club’s lone player to appear in all 82 games, a milestone he set as his top personal objective last fall.
“It was probably my biggest goal at the beginning of the season,” LaRavia said after Sunday’s victory over the Utah Jazz. “I just wanted to have a healthy, consistent, reliable year and I was able to make that happen. So, I’m very excited about that.”
LaRavia, 24, became the 45th player in franchise history to log a complete season and the first since Austin Reaves accomplished the feat in 2023-24. The fourth-year wing had never reached that benchmark before, appearing in 35 games in each of his first two seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies and 66 contests last year while splitting time between Memphis and the Sacramento Kings.
The Wake Forest product credited both preparation and good fortune for his durability. “It’s a mindset and a bit of luck, obviously,” he explained. “Uncontrollable injuries happen, but there are little knick-knack injuries you have to play through. It’s part mindset, part luck, and I was just able to make it through and get all 82.”
Reliable Presence Amid Injury Turmoil
Head coach JJ Redick shuffled lineups throughout the season as key players missed time, yet LaRavia remained a fixture thanks to his perimeter defense and energy. Although his shooting numbers dipped from previous years, his ability to slide into any unit earned Redick’s trust heading into the postseason.
Playoff Outlook
Los Angeles closed the schedule on a three-game winning streak to secure the Western Conference’s fourth seed and a first-round matchup with the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena. Redick offered preliminary thoughts on the series after the regular-season finale, while LaRavia emphasized that continuing his reliable play is the priority as the Lakers navigate ongoing injury concerns.
Source: Lakers Nation
