Although the Los Angeles Lakers have been without Luka Dončić for a few games and LeBron James for the whole beginning of the season, they are still 5-2.
Much of that can be attributed to breakout guard Austin Reaves, who is averaging 31.1 points per game along with 9.3 assists.
Reaves has certainly been the x-factor to most of the Lakers' victories, but they surely wouldn’t be in this position without the supporting cast.
Most noticeably Jake LaRavia, the 6-foot-7 first-year Laker whom they signed this offseason.
In the Lakers' most recent game against the Miami Heat on Sunday, LaRavia had 25 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and four steals in 35 minutes.
Again, in a one-point win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, LaRavia had 27 points and shot 10-of-11 from the field.
Without LeBron, the Lakers are searching for multiple guys to replicate his production because one guy can not do everything that he does.
LaRavia has been the perfect substitute while he is out.
He is currently averaging 12.9 points per game, which would be a career high if he stays on that pace.
When the Lakers signed him this offseason, they certainly didn’t expect this type of value.
He has been so good in fact, that Lake Show Life’s Tyler Watts labeled him the steal of the offseason.
“LaRavia is going to keep making winning plays. He shot 42.3 percent from 3-point range last season and rated as an above league average player by win shares per 48 minutes,” Watts said Monday.
“The 24-year-old is still improving and now has Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves setting him up. Soon, the Lakers will add LeBron James to the mix, and things will get even easier for LaRavia. He is shining in his role and way outperforming his contract.”
He is the perfect plug-and-play guy, who will mesh well with all the different lineups the Lakers can put on the court.
Watch out for LaRavia and the rest of this star-studded Lakers team, because right now they look legit.
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