DENVER — Jake LaRavia, now a forward for the Los Angeles Lakers, attributes his defensive improvement to guidance he received early in his career from Marcus Smart, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year from two seasons prior. While playing for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2023-24, LaRavia’s playing time and steals per game more than doubled as he absorbed lessons from Smart, who despite being limited to 25 games that season due to injuries, shared insight to help his younger teammate develop defensively.
LaRavia reflected on the impact of Smart’s coaching, emphasizing the concrete improvements in his defensive technique.
“(Smart) taught me a lot about my positioning,”
he said.
“When he wasn’t playing and I was playing, it was good, because he was just able to kind of teach me more about defensive positioning, hands, deflections, the best time to get steals, stuff like that.”
—Jake LaRavia, Forward
Joining Forces with Smart and Kennard on the Lakers’ Defensive Lineup
Two years later, LaRavia is now a part of the Lakers roster alongside Marcus Smart and recent acquisition Luke Kennard for the 2025-26 season. Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised LaRavia’s active defense, noting his streak of recording a steal in four consecutive games. Redick highlighted his physicality and consistent adherence to defensive assignments as key factors in his rise.
“We knew that he would be disruptive in terms of steals and deflections,”
Redick explained.
“He’s been really good in terms of his physicality. And in terms of executing what we want, particularly off-ball, we talk about grabbing and holding all the time. He’s been really physical with that. He’s done, for the vast majority of the season, everything we’ve asked of him in terms of what his responsibilities are.”
—JJ Redick, Lakers Head Coach
Marcus Smart’s Defensive Leadership Fuels Team Momentum
After a recent Lakers win over the New Orleans Pelicans, led in part by Smart’s defensive efforts—four steals and three blocks—Redick emphasized the veteran guard’s crucial role in energizing the team and pressuring opponents. Smart’s defensive tenacity influences the rhythm of the game and forces opposing teams into timeout situations.
“He has starred in his role for what we need from him consistently throughout the year,”
Redick noted.
“He’s, I think, played great basketball for the last five, six weeks, and that starts at the defensive end.”
—JJ Redick, Lakers Head Coach
Redick further explained that the defensive assignments set at the start of games depend heavily on the different strengths LaRavia and Smart provide. Through his last ten games, Smart leads the Lakers in steals, averaging 1.9 per game, while his plus-minus rating ranks second on the team, just behind backup center Jaxson Hayes, who holds a 6.6 rating.
LaRavia Acknowledges Smart’s Energy and Influence on Defense
LaRavia openly praised Smart’s high-energy playstyle and how it serves as an inspiration to the entire Lakers squad. He elaborated on how Smart’s hustle contributes to critical defensive plays like diving for loose balls, winning contested possessions, and forcing stops, which rallies his teammates behind a shared defensive focus.
“He just brings energy every night,”
LaRavia said.
“The hustle plays, like when he dives on the ball, when he gets those 50/50 balls, when he gets steals, when he gets stops. Like he just brings so much energy and tenacity to the defensive side, so we kind of all just rally behind him.”
—Jake LaRavia, Forward
Defensive Development Signals Promise for Lakers’ Postseason Run
The defensive synergy between LaRavia, Smart, and Kennard offers the Lakers a formidable presence as they approach the postseason. Coach Redick’s reliance on these players to execute demanding defensive roles reflects their progress and importance within the squad. Their skills and defensive intensity could prove decisive in high-stakes playoff matchups, bolstering the Lakers’ hopes of rebounding after a challenging regular season.
With LaRavia’s continued growth under Smart’s mentorship and the strategic adjustments led by Redick, the Lakers look poised to strengthen their defensive identity while carrying momentum into the upcoming playoff battles.
