Jake LaRavia Revamps Jump Shot, Sees Early Success for Lakers
The Lakers forward has made subtle adjustments to his shooting form, leading to improved accuracy in preseason play.
Jake LaRavia has significantly altered his jump shot during the offseason, and the changes appear to be yielding positive results for the Los Angeles Lakers. Entering Tuesday's exhibition game against the Warriors, LaRavia was shooting 54.6% from beyond the arc on 6 of 11 attempts.
Last season, LaRavia's three-point shooting struggled, as he posted a career-low 32.1% success rate. In response, head coach JJ Redick noted that the fifth-year wing implemented three "very minor tweaks" to his shooting mechanics.
LaRavia described the adjustments as focused on his "shooting pocket," specifically moving it slightly outward, and a subtle change to his "release." While he identified these two primary modifications, LaRavia humorously admitted he couldn't recall the third tweak, stating, "Now, it's just natural to me, so I just do it. I have no idea."
Redick emphasized the importance of repetition and confidence in shooting, stating, "It's hard to have confidence without the first two. And it's hard to have good repetitions if your form sucks. And it's not that his form sucked, his form had a really good base. But he just made small tweaks."
The coach added that LaRavia has been shooting well in practice and live play, indicating a strong offensive position. LaRavia himself noted the challenge of changing a shot he'd used his entire life but found comfort after about a month of practice. "And then after a month, it became more natural and now it's just my new shot," he said.