Los Angeles Lakers swingman Jake LaRavia has been a breath of fresh air early in the 2025-26 season. He's competing with vigor on the defensive end of the floor, stepping up as a scorer when the stars are sidelined, and emerging as a reliable source of playmaking.
All of that is at least somewhat in line with what Rob Pelinka was hoping LaRavia would do, but his unexpected emergence as a locker room leader is the most encouraging development of all.
Los Angeles entered its Nov. 3 encounter with the Portland Trail Blazers facing the widespread expectation of a lopsided defeat. Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves were all absent, and few expressed faith in the Lakers' ability to overcome adversity.
Instead of accepting defeat as an inevitability, three Lakers players scored at least 25 points and the purple and gold secured the most unlikely of 123-115 victories.
Back-to-back games
Back-to-back wins pic.twitter.com/ss9DMbrsw5
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 4, 2025
According to Kevin Pelton of ESPN, starting center Deandre Ayton credited LaRavia with creating the next-man-up mentality that fueled Los Angeles' shocking win.
"You've got to sit there and blame dudes like Jake LaRavia," Ayton said. "He started all this. You know, next man up mentality. Showing up, being on time and approaching the game a different way. JJ has given us opportunities like this when our guys are out and given us the freedom. You've got guys like Jake LaRavia and Nick Smith showing out."
LaRavia is only 24 years of age and has a mere 144 games of NBA experience, but he's already setting the standard in the locker room for a contender.
Deandre Ayton credits Jake LaRavia with Lakers' next-man-up mentality
LaRavia's individual quality of play is reason enough to be pleased with the Lakers' decision to sign him. Through eight games, he's averaging 12.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.5 three-point field goals made per game on .585/.444/.565 shooting.
LaRavia also stepped up with 27 points in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, 25 during a victory against the Miami Heat, and six assists against Portland.
What Ayton is alluding to, however, goes well beyond the statistics. LaRavia hasn't just stepped up with big performances in a normal situation, but entered the starting lineup and then returned to the second unit without dispute depending on team needs and availability.
When he scored 27 points against the Timberwolves, for instance, the Lakers were without Doncic—while his 25 against Miami were scored off the bench with both Doncic and Reaves playing.
That adaptability to whatever the situation calls for is exactly what the Lakers desperately needed from their supporting cast. Every scenario will call for something different from both stars and role players, and those who can adapt are typically the most successful.
LaRavia seems to be rubbing off on his teammates as a player who's willing to do whatever it takes to win, no matter what the circumstances may be.
It's beyond unlikely for a team to land such a significant locker room presence at just $6 million per season, let alone when they're 24 years of age. That's what Los Angeles has found in LaRavia, however, as he's even inspiring veterans to take their respective games to another level.
It may not be the development that Lakers fans saw coming, but LaRavia is already earning his place as a significant figure in the rotation and the locker room alike.