Jake LaRavia scored 26 points against his former team as the Los Angeles Lakers edged the Memphis Grizzlies 120-114 on Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena. LaRavia discussed his growing confidence and role in the Lakers’ offense.
“I’m just trusting the work that I’ve been putting in recently,” LaRavia said. “Coaches telling me, players telling me, just keep shooting the ball. They trust me. I trust myself.”
LaRavia credited his rapid development to following coaching guidance. “I feel like I’m very much a player where when you tell me the things that you want me to do, I’m just going out there and doing them,” he said. “Shots aren’t going to fall every game, but I can control the effort that I bring to the game, crashing every time.”
He also reflected on playing against Memphis. “It’s fun to play against the guys that I know,” LaRavia said. “But there’s nothing outside of just the fact that it’s a regular game.”
Defensively, LaRavia highlighted preparation and effort. “I try to understand what players like to do and what their tendencies are, and then I can play off that. I’m really good at getting deflections and playing with my hands,” he said.
LaRavia’s confidence was evident in his shot selection, taking a season-high 10 three-pointers. “Very comfortable,” he said. “With AR out, this is one of those hats where I’m able to do this. New stepping stones each game, growing in the way I’m playing offensively.”
He identified improvements on both ends of the floor since joining the Lakers. “Decision-making on both sides of the ball, and my defense has gotten better every year,” he said. “On the offensive side, probably decision-making most of all.”
LaRavia also praised the team’s physicality and clutch performance. “We really picked it up down in the clutch time. Intensity, effort, physicality, all those things. My role is to be that energy guy and hopefully the team can feed off me,” he said.
The Lakers overcame an 11-point deficit late in the third quarter, tying the game at 92-92 on LaRavia’s driving layup before taking the lead for good at 100-99 on a pull-up jumper from Luka Doncic with 5:12 remaining.
With injuries sidelining Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves, LaRavia’s scoring and energy proved critical. Los Angeles improves to 22-11, while Memphis remains 15-20 as they try to end a three-game skid.
