Jake LaRavia: Bio, Stats, Strengths, Salary, and More

Jake LaRavia is the kind of player who makes you check the box score twice, having gone from a winding college path to becoming a rotation forward for the Los Angeles Lakers after being selected 19th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. Here’s a full look at his background, strengths, salary, and what makes him valuable.

Team: Los Angeles Lakers ·
Position: Forward/Guard ·
Height: 6-7 ·
Weight: 235 lbs ·
Age: 22 (born November 3, 2001) ·
College: Indiana State / Wake Forest

Here is a summary of key personal and career facts.

What Is Jake LaRavia Known For?

NBA career overview

• LaRavia is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers (ESPN).
• He plays forward/guard and is known for his versatility on both ends of the floor.
• In the 2025-26 season, he played all 82 games, starting 43, and averaged 8.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game (Wikipedia).

The implication: LaRavia has already carved out a reliable rotation spot, proving he can stay healthy and contribute across the stat sheet.

Playing style and position

• Listed as a forward, but he can slide to guard when needed (Basketball-Reference).
• His skill set includes shooting, ball-handling, and defensive versatility.
• At 6-7 with a 235-lb frame, he has the size to guard multiple positions.

Why this matters: The Lakers can use LaRavia as a flexible wing who doesn’t need the ball to be effective, a valuable asset in a LeBron James–led lineup.

Was Jake LaRavia Drafted?

Draft year and round

• LaRavia was selected in the 2022 NBA Draft as the 19th overall pick in the first round (RealGM).
• The pick was originally made by the Minnesota Timberwolves, but his draft rights were immediately traded to the Memphis Grizzlies (Wikipedia).
• He later joined the Lakers as a free agent in June 2025.

The pattern: LaRavia’s draft-night trade shows how teams valued his potential even before he played a single NBA game.

College career at Indiana State

• LaRavia played college basketball at Indiana State before transferring to Wake Forest (Basketball-Reference).
• At Indiana State, he was named to the MVC All-Freshman Team in 2020 and the MVC Second Team in 2021 (Wikipedia (Portuguese)).
• At Wake Forest, he averaged 14.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, earning All-ACC Second Team honors (Wikipedia (Portuguese)).

What this means: LaRavia’s college production shows he was a late bloomer who developed into a high-level collegiate player, which translated to NBA interest.

What Are Jake LaRavia’s Strengths?

Shooting and scoring

• LaRavia averaged 17.3 points per game in college (Indiana State season) and maintained solid shooting percentages in the NBA.
• In the 2025-26 season, he shot 36.5% from three-point range (Wikipedia).
• His catch-and-shoot ability makes him a floor spacer.

The trade-off: While he’s a reliable shooter, he’s not yet a high-volume scorer, meaning his value comes from efficiency rather than volume.

Defensive versatility

• At 6-7 and 235 lbs, LaRavia can guard both forwards and guards (ESPN).
• He averaged 1.3 steals per game in the 2025-26 season, showing active hands.
• His defensive rating (113.2) was solid for a rotation player.

Why this matters: In a league that prioritizes switchable defenders, LaRavia’s ability to guard multiple positions is a key reason the Lakers invested in him.

Ball-handling

• LaRavia can initiate offense in spot minutes, averaging 1.8 assists per game.
• His assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8:1) is respectable for a forward.

The catch: He’s not a primary playmaker, but he can make the right pass when defenses collapse.

What Is Jake LaRavia’s Salary?

Current contract details

• LaRavia signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers in June 2025 (ESPN).
• Spotrac reports the deal is fully guaranteed, with an average annual salary of $6,000,000 (Spotrac).

The implication: For a player who was a draft pick-turned-rotation wing, $6 million per year is a reasonable investment for a team needing depth.

Cap hit figures

• For the 2025-26 season, his cap hit is approximately $6 million.
• The 2026-27 season will also carry a $6 million cap hit if the contract is fully executed.

Why this matters: The Lakers’ cap flexibility allows them to keep LaRavia as a cost-effective piece while chasing bigger stars.

How Tall Is Jake LaRavia and How Old Is He?

Height and weight

• LaRavia is listed at 6 feet 7 inches tall and 235 pounds by NBA.com and ESPN.
• Basketball-Reference lists him at 6-8 and 235 lbs (Basketball-Reference).

The pattern: Slight variations in listed height are common, but all sources agree he has a strong, NBA-ready frame.

Date of birth and age

• LaRavia was born on November 3, 2001, in Pasadena, California (Basketball-Reference).
• He is currently 22 years old (as of the 2024-25 season).

Why this matters: At 22, LaRavia is still young enough to develop further, especially in a system that values versatile wings.

“The Lakers have reached a two-year, $12 million deal with forward Jake LaRavia, adding a versatile wing to their rotation.”

— ESPN (leading sports news outlet)

“Jake LaRavia is a forward for the Los Angeles Lakers who can contribute on both ends of the floor.”

— NBA.com (official league site)

For the Lakers, the decision to invest in LaRavia is clear: they get a young, cost-controlled wing who can defend multiple positions and space the floor. Without that gamble, they’d likely be paying more for a similar skill set on the free-agent market. The trade-off is that LaRavia must continue to improve his shooting consistency to lock down a permanent rotation spot.

Frequently asked questions

These answers cover the most common questions about LaRavia’s career and background.

Related reading

• Ron Harper: Stats, Rings, and 5-Time NBA Champion Career
• OG Anunoby Biography: Family Tragedy, Quiet Personality & NBA Career

The Lakers will count on LaRavia’s growth as they build toward future contention.