The Los Angeles Lakers’ apparent want from final season’s playoffs was improved protection.
They addressed this concern by filling their big-man gap with DeAndre Ayton and buying former Defensive Participant of the Yr Marcus Sensible.
Sensible was notably introduced in to assist Luka Doncic defensively, with Doncic displaying enchancment by incomes a Greatest Defensive Participant nomination at EuroBasket 2025.
Nonetheless, based on Brian Windhorst, the Lakers added one other underrated defensive asset alongside Sensible.
The ESPN insider believes the Lakers view Jake LaRavia as an important defensive piece regardless of Marcus Sensible receiving a lot of the consideration.
“I wouldn’t rely on Luka for evening in and evening out [defensively]. In addition they misplaced Dorian Finney-Smith, in order that they tried to handle this by going out and signing Jake LaRavia and Marcus Sensible,” Windhorst began.
“Now I do know Marcus Sensible’s gonna be the headliner there as a result of he’s a former Defensive Participant of the Yr, however I feel the Lakers really feel like Jake LaRavia is an underrated defensive participant.”
Windhorst emphasised LaRavia’s positional versatility as a key asset for the Lakers’ defensive schemes going ahead.
“He can guard level guards all the best way right down to even some energy forwards, in order that they’re gonna be counting on him this yr,” he added.
LaRavia’s statistical basis helps optimism about defensive influence
LaRavia’s defensive metrics from final season present encouraging indicators for Lakers followers.
He averaged 0.9 steals with a defensive score of 113.7, which in contrast favorably to gamers like Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent, and even Finney-Smith.
The statistical basis suggests LaRavia possesses the instruments to turn out to be a high quality defensive contributor, particularly underneath JJ Redick’s teaching and tactical instruction.
LaRavia beforehand acknowledged he’s the kind of participant who provides every little thing and doesn’t quit on performs.
This mentality, mixed along with his measurable defensive influence, gives Lakers followers respectable causes for optimism about his position of their improved defensive id.
