Jake LaRavia’s 2025-26 season went from solid to straight-up disastrous in the blink of an eye, especially once the playoffs hit. What started as a promising showing quickly crumbled, forcing the Lakers forward into a summer of serious self-reflection after a steep drop in his game made him a “glaring liability.”
From 3-and-D Hope to Playoff Liability
Through January 15th of last season, LaRavia was hitting 35.3 percent of his shots from beyond the arc. That’s solid, exactly what you want from a wing who can also play defense. But then, something just… broke. Over the final 43 games, his deep shooting plummeted to a dismal 27.9 percent. This wasn’t just a slump, it was a freefall. When the postseason arrived, it got even worse. His playing time was drastically slashed, going from an average of 25.1 minutes per game down to just 14.3. And his shooting from deep in the playoffs? A brutal 2-of-7.
He wasn’t just missing shots, he was making bad calls and turning the ball over way too much. His playoff turnover rate ballooned to 27.1 percent, a huge jump from his 12.9 percent regular season mark. Coach JJ Redick saw what was happening and had to drastically cut his minutes, because the “3-and-D wing” they thought they had became a massive problem on the floor. LaRavia became “gun-shy when the ball swung his way and consistently made poor decisions offensively.” That’s rough, man.
“A Summer of Reflection and Intentionality”
On Monday’s media day, LaRavia didn’t shy away from it. He faced the music, admitting last season’s second half was not what he wanted. “This summer was a summer of reflection and intentionality for me,” LaRavia shared. He got real about what happened, pinpointing a significant mental block. “You hit mental lapses in the season. I hit a mental lapse last season and I wasn’t able to shake back from it,” he said. He knows on the biggest stage, that just can’t happen for a professional athlete. So, a lot of his offseason was spent working on that mental side of the game.
Beyond the mental work, there was a huge physical focus too: his shot. “And then the other thing was just working on my jump shot because that was, I think, the biggest thing,” LaRavia explained. He’s committed to playing hard, playing defense, crashing the boards, and rebounding every single game. But it all comes back to hitting those shots consistently. “Consistency with the shooting was a very big thing for me. So that was definitely the main thing that I focused on this summer was being consistent with my jump shot and just working on that.”
What’s Next For LaRavia?
LaRavia came into last season as a career 37.1 percent outside shooter. If he can get back to that level, it changes everything for him and the Lakers. It won’t just improve his scoring, it’ll likely clean up his offensive decision-making too. The Lakers need a useful defensive-minded wing off the bench, especially one who’s comfortable playing alongside stars like Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. If his offseason work pays off, he could be a huge piece for them. As LaRavia put it himself: “Now we see.”
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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