Coming into the 2017-18 NBA season, Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton and his coaching staff were ready to mix things up. The team had gone through some drastic changes over the summer and were prepared to make more alterations to the rotation once the season got underway.
Throughout the first three games, the odd man in terms of minutes appeared to be Julius Randle. Although Randle has been the starting power forward during the majority of his stint with the Lakers, he is now coming off the bench in a limited role with Larry Nance Jr. getting the bulk of the minutes at the four spot.
This hasn't sat well with Randle thus far as it seems as though he and Walton don't see eye-to-eye on the situation. Despite Randle's discontent with the bench role, the fourth-year forward made quite an impression in Wednesday's overtime win over the Washington Wizards.
“We don't win that game without him,” Walton said of Randle. “That verticality he took, two of them late in the game, with players flying at him, the big three that he hit; [I'm] just really happy that even though he wasn't playing, he still stayed ready and came in and helped. On the flip side of that, Larry Nance [Jr.], who was really good for three quarters, I didn't play him at all in the fourth. I was planning on getting him back in, but Julius started, and you could see it in his body language, and I looked down the bench, and Larry Nance is up, and he's cheering for Julius, he's happy for him, and that's what we want. It's not about individuals, it's about the team and making the team come first, and I thought tonight was a good step forward with that.”
In only 19 minutes off the bench, Randle managed to make some key defensive stops as well as a game-tying three-pointer which ultimately forced overtime. The Kentucky product finished with 11 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks while shooting 5-for-7 from the floor.
Although Randle came up big in the win over the Wizards, it remains to be seen what his role will be moving forward. If he can bring that energy off the bench on a nightly basis, Walton and company may stick with him as a leader in the second unit while potentially increasing his minutes.
At this point, Randle may have to accept his role, and if he continues playing like this, it may be the best thing for him.
Follow Us
Subscribe