Head coach Luke Walton of the Los Angeles Lakers wasn't willing to announce who he was going to start at power forward in the team's season opener against the L.A. Clippers until the day of the game. Julius Randle was in the running to keep his starting job, but it ultimately was given to Larry Nance Jr.

Randle, who made headlines in the offseason for making an incredible effort to get in shape during the offseason, wasn't thrilled with Walton's decision. The second-year head coach talked about Randle's frustration after the team's loss to the Clippers on Thursday night.

Julius Randle, Luke Walton
Ethan Miller/Getty Images

“Julius has been great this last week in practice,” Walton said. “I think he's obviously a little frustrated by the starting thing. I've explained it's not about being better or playing better, it's about what units play well, and Julius was playing really well with the second unit, and Larry [Nance Jr.] was playing really well with the first unit. I think when he stepped on the court that he wasn't ready to go like he has been the past week, so I pulled him out to tell him about it, and I know he wasn't happy with me, but that's my job. It's an adjustment, but it's something that you have to do. When you're coming off the bench and you get put in the game, you have to be ready to go at that moment. It's not easy, but he can do it, and he'll be fine. I just think it was, like a lot of tonight, a learning experience.”

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In 18 minutes on the floor in the opener, Randle finished with nine points, six rebounds, an assist and a block. The fourth-year forward only shot the ball eight times making half of his attempts.

As for Nance, the Wyoming product was one minute shy of matching the team-high Brandon Ingram set at 31. Nance had the toughest assignment on the floor on Thursday having to guard Blake Griffin who was seemingly on a mission in his first game without Chris Paul. Griffin ended up with 29 points and 12 rebounds as the Clippers cruised to 16-point victory, 108-92.

Nance, however, had a solid night scoring 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting while also ripping down 12 rebounds. Unless Walton decides to mix things up on Friday against the Phoenix Suns, Nance may have secured the starting job at the four spot moving forward.