There have been plenty of reasons for the Los Angeles Lakers being mired in a four-game rut. Among the most notable topics of conversation has been the fluctuating minutes of forward Julius Randle.
With the Lakers struggling so mightily, many are wondering why Randle continues to see inconsistent minutes despite his solid play. According to Shahan Ahmed of NBC Sports Los Angeles, Walton finally offered up some explanation:
“Julius has shown us how great he can be, and I believe in Julius and I continue to challenge him. And some nights he doesn't play big minutes, it’s because other guys are rolling. And some nights it's because it's up to the standard he's set for himself. I want him to feel and realize the difference in those things as part of his growth as a player.”
After being named the starter in Los Angeles largely over the past two seasons, Randle was relegated to a bench role in favor of forward Larry Nance Jr. prior to the start of the 2017-18 NBA season. However, he has done a solid job of maintaining his composure amidst all the inconsistent playing time by becoming one of the Lakers' primary contributors coming off the bench this season.
That said, it is still a bit unclear as to why Randle's minutes continue to fluctuate. Furthermore, the fourth-year man out of Kentucky has been at the center of trade talks lately which has undoubtedly started to serve as yet another distraction during the Lakers' recent struggles.
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