As the Los Angeles Lakers near the start of their regular season, there’s still no definitive word as to who will get the start at power forward. Lakers coach Luke Walton previously said there would be a debate as to who would get that role and that rookie Kyle Kuzma had a 10 percent chance of securing it.

The presumed favorite to start is still Julius Randle, though. The fourth-year forward told Ryan Ward of ClutchPoints that it’s ultimately out of his hands when asked if he minded possibly coming off the bench.

Randle, who was not offered a contract extension by the Lakers, has started 133 out of a possible 156 games for the Lakers after being drafted No. 7 overall in 2014. He made a strong case to retain his starting spot by averaging 13.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in six preseason games.

However, the equally impressive preseason play of the Kuzma has given the rookie at least some hope of getting that starting power forward spot.

From a tactical perspective, coming off the bench could be beneficial for Randle, who may get more opportunities to handle the ball and lead the second-unit offense while Lonzo Ball is off the court.

As Julius Randle points out, though, that decision is not his nor anyone else’s to make but Walton’s. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, he can only control how he reacts and plays after the decision has been made.