The Los Angeles Lakers battled through adversity for multiple games amid injuries to LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Marcus Smart. However, other Lakers stars stepped up, including guard Austin Reaves and forward Jake LaRavia.
Both had impressive games against the Minnesota Timberwolves, with LaRavia scorching hot, missing one shot, and finishing with 27 points. Injured NBA All-Star Anthony Edwards watched from his team’s bench at the home game and created a viral moment thanks to a fan yelling out a significant question.
During a quieter moment in the game, a fan yelled, asking who No. 12 was for the Lakers. Edwards played it up, responding with his hands in the air, “That’s what I’m asking. I don’t know.”
It was partly trash talk and partly comedic jab by one of the game’s funniest stars, as LaRavia hadn’t been someone visible on most people’s radars. That was until he scored 27 points on the Timberwolves in a thrilling Lakers’ win, with only one missed shot, and the Edwards moment went viral.
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After his team picked up another win on Sunday evening against the Miami Heat, reporters asked LaRavia about Edwards’ remark about him, and the Lakers forward gave a candid response.
“I kinda put my hands up like this, and I kinda agree with him like, ‘who’s number 12?’ I kinda played into it a little bit. I find that kind of stuff funny cause I am not well known at this moment, so I’ll just, you know, head down, working hard, that’s all I do. Shoutout Anthony Edwards for allowing that clip to go viral,” he told the media.
LaRavia also confessed he’s heard the “Who’s No. 12?” joke about three times since the Edwards moment in Minnesota. However, he doesn’t seem to mind the fun jab and remains dedicated to working hard and showing the world who he is.
LaRavia is currently averaging 12.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, while LeBron James is out of the lineup. However, his impressive 60 percent from the field has him tied for No. 14 in the league.
The Lakers made a strong effort to add him to their roster as a key piece in another championship-contending team. Los Angeles signed LaRavia, formerly with the Sacramento Kings and Memphis Grizzlies, to a two-year $12 million contract in July.
With that deal and the backing of coach JJ Redick and general manager Rob Pelinka, he has the attention of the right people on his team and, probably, in the league.
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