Los Angeles Lakers swingman Jake LaRavia has been a breath of fresh air early in the 2025-26 season. He's competing with vigor on the defensive end of the floor, stepping up as a scorer when the stars are sidelined, and emerging as a reliable source of playmaking.
All of that is at least somewhat in line with what Rob Pelinka was hoping LaRavia would do, but his unexpected emergence as a locker room leader is the most encouraging development of all.
Los Angeles entered its Nov. 3 encounter with the Portland Trail Blazers facing the widespread expectation of a lopsided defeat.