The Los Angeles Lakers’ preseason 126-116 win over the Golden State Warriors wasn’t short on entertainment, and not just from the action on the court. During the second half, a hilarious moment unfolded involving Jake LaRavia, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves, giving fans one of the funniest viral clips of the night.
It happened midway through the fourth quarter when LaRavia, who signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the Lakers this offseason, found himself in a perfect position under the rim. After a clean pass from Jaxson Hayes, LaRavia went up for what looked like a routine layup and missed. The ball bounced right back to him, and to everyone’s disbelief, he missed the follow-up, too.
To his credit, LaRavia hustled, grabbed the rebound a second time, and finally tipped it in. But by that point, the damage or rather, the comedy, was already done. The Lakers’ bench erupted, and front and center were LeBron James and Austin Reaves, who were seen mockingly clapping and cheering for LaRavia after he finally got the bucket to fall.
LeBron & AR clowning Jake LaRavia for missing 2 wide open layups 😭 pic.twitter.com/vQTVoaQ7Du
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) October 13, 2025
Fans caught the moment on camera, and the clip quickly made the rounds online, with many joking that Reaves and LeBron were trolling their new teammate for finally finishing the job.
Despite the comical moment, LaRavia actually put together a solid outing. He finished the game with 11 points, five assists, and three rebounds, playing efficient basketball outside of the now-viral sequence. Coming off a season where he averaged 6.9 points, 2.6 assists, and 3.9 rebounds in 66 games split between the Kings and Grizzlies, LaRavia is looking to carve out a role as a versatile forward off the Lakers’ bench.
According to team sources, the front office led by Rob Pelinka has been high on LaRavia’s potential as a floor-spacing forward who can defend multiple positions. The Lakers believe he can thrive alongside playmakers like Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James, given his ability to stretch the floor and move without the ball.
The incident came during what was otherwise a strong team performance. The Lakers defeated the Warriors 126-116, marking their first preseason win after two earlier losses. Austin Reaves led the way with 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting, adding three assists and three rebounds. Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht chipped in with 16 points each, while Deandre Ayton added 14 points and eight boards in his first extended run in purple and gold.
For LaRavia, it’s all part of fitting into a team that clearly enjoys itself, even at each other’s expense.
And for fans, it was another reminder that this Lakers squad, with its mix of stars, new faces, and personalities, is shaping up to be as entertaining off the court as it is on it.
