LOS ANGELES (KNX) — Lakers guard Russell Westbrook will reportedly come off the bench in the team's preseason finale on Friday against the Sacramento Kings, according to multiple reports.
After a rocky first season with the Purple and Gold, Westbrook struggled mightily to fit in with stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis last year.
Westbrook will reportedly start with the team's second unit, giving him a chance to be the floor general when James is off the court and is likely a sign of the team's plan moving forward.
Westbrook, a Los Angeles native who went to Leuzinger High School in Lawndale before playing collegiately at UCLA, is a former league MVP and nine-time All-Star but barely looked like that last season.
Though he averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game last season, Westbrook never seemed to fit in with the rest of the team and became a punchline for Lakers fans and national sports personalities.
While Ham and Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka publicly supported keeping Westbrook in Los Angeles, the team reportedly tried to trade him during the offseason to land Nets All-Star guard Kyrie Irving.
Westbrook is due $47 million this season in the final year of his current contract, making it extremely difficult for the team to trade him.
If the team cannot complete a trade, Westbrook will likely come off the bench this season for the Purple and Gold.
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