Jake LaRavia Emerges as Lakers’ Perfect 3-and-D Fit for JJ Redick’s System, Younger Than Knecht, More Experienced—and Already Making His Mark
In a move that signals the Lakers’ evolving direction under new head coach JJ Redick, Jake LaRavia has emerged as the franchise’s ideal 3-and-D forward—bringing a rare combination of youth, defensive IQ, and offensive versatility.
What’s more impressive? LaRavia is younger than Dalton Knecht, the 2024 first-round pick, yet he already boasts three seasons of NBA experience, giving him a significant edge in maturity and system-readiness.
Jake LaRavia (6’8”, 235 lbs) – The Prototype Wing
📊 2025 Stats:
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6.1 PTS
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2.8 REB
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0.9 STL
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39% from 3PT
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19.3 MIN per game
✅ Great help defender
✅ Excellent 3-point shooter
✅ True two-way player
LaRavia brings exactly what Redick’s motion-heavy, spacing-oriented system demands. At 6’8” and 235 pounds, he’s physically built to guard multiple positions, fight through screens, and close out hard on perimeter shooters—while still switching onto wings and bigger guards with ease.
“Jake is a high IQ two-way player with ideal skills for a JJ Redick basketball system,” said Lakers GM Rob Pelinka. “He’s a disruptive defender who uses his size and physicality to create turnovers. Offensively, he can score at all three levels and has a knack for creating space for himself and his teammates.”
Dalton Knecht (6’6”, 215 lbs) – Offensive Microwave
📊 2025 Stats:
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9.1 PTS
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2.8 REB
-
38% from 3PT
-
19.2 MIN per game
✅ Elite shot-maker
✅ Natural scorer
While Knecht offers instant offense and projects as a go-to scorer off the bench or as a spot starter, LaRavia’s skillset is better tailored to the modern, switch-heavy defensive schemes and off-ball movement Redick plans to emphasize.
The Bigger Picture: Depth, Flexibility, and Defense
With LeBron James likely entering his final few seasons and Anthony Davis anchoring the interior, the Lakers needed a wing who could do the dirty work on defense, hit open threes, and make smart reads within a fluid offensive system. LaRavia checks all of those boxes—and does so at just 23 years old.
Redick’s system isn’t about isolation-heavy sets or ball-dominant guards; it’s about flow, spacing, and trust in role players to execute. LaRavia’s high basketball IQ, defensive instincts, and improved shooting make him the ideal glue guy next to stars.
Verdict: Lakers May Have Quietly Found a Core Role Player
Jake LaRavia may not be a household name yet, but all signs point to him becoming a critical piece in the Lakers’ new era. In a league that values wings who can shoot, defend, and think the game, LaRavia fits the modern mold—and then some.
