TITLE: Jake LaRavia sets shooting as top priority after exiting Lakers’ playoff rotation
SLUG: jake-laravia-sets-shooting-priority-after-playoff-exit
CONTENT:
Forward Jake LaRavia plans to spend the summer sharpening his shooting after losing his place in the Los Angeles Lakers’ playoff rotation. The 24-year-old appeared in all 82 regular-season games, the club’s only player to do so, but did not see the floor in the final two postseason contests against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“I didn’t shoot the ball in any capacity that I wanted to this year,” LaRavia said following the Game 4 defeat. “Having months where you’re shooting sub-30% is just not gonna cut it, and I know I’m a way better shooter than that.”
LaRavia finished the regular season at a career-low 32.1% from three-point range, and that figure fell to 28.6% in the playoffs. Despite providing energy and defensive versatility, the drop-off on offense tightened head coach Darvin Ham’s rotation and left LaRavia on the bench for the series’ closing games.
The former first-round pick views the experience as motivation. “Not looking at it negatively,” he said. “I’m just excited to go into this offseason and work on the things that I need to.”
LaRavia remains under contract for 2026-27, positioning him to return as a reliable contributor if his offseason work translates to improved consistency.
Source: Lakers Nation
