Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick said forward Jake LaRavia has met every expectation placed on him since signing a two-year deal as the team’s first free-agency addition last summer.
Speaking before Sunday’s win over the Sacramento Kings, Redick praised the 23-year-old for accepting difficult defensive assignments and executing the coaching staff’s schemes. “He’s been really good in terms of his physicality and in terms of executing what we want, particularly off ball,” Redick noted. “He’s done, for the vast majority of the season, everything we’ve asked of him in terms of what his responsibilities are.”
LaRavia has toggled between the starting lineup and the bench while averaging career highs in minutes and starts. Offensively, the 6-foot-8 wing has provided reliable perimeter shooting and ball movement. Defensively, his combination of size and anticipation has produced steals, deflections and timely closeouts, allowing Los Angeles to stay competitive against playoff-caliber opponents.
Redick acknowledged that LaRavia often guards primary scorers, a role that typically leads to higher “blow-by” rates. Nevertheless, the coach cited the forward’s commitment to physical play—grabbing, holding and fighting through screens—as a key factor in the team’s recent performances.
LaRavia, a Southern California native, has repeatedly expressed pride in wearing a Lakers jersey, calling the opportunity to play in Los Angeles a personal milestone. Redick believes that dedication, coupled with the heavy workload he is handling for the first time in his career, points to a promising trajectory for the young defender.
Source: LakersNation.com
