SACRAMENTO — Coach Darvin Ham and the Lakers will bring former most valuable player Russell Westbrook off the bench for their preseason finale Friday night, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Los Angeles Times. Westbrook last came off the bench in an NBA game on Nov. 28, 2008, during his rookie season. The decision to bring Westbrook off the bench comes after Ham said Thursday he would use a sixth different starting lineup this preseason in their Friday finale against the Kings. “It’s different combinations of seeing different guys play together,” Ham said Thursday. Following a quiet performance Wednesday against Minnesota, when Westbrook only attempted three shots, Ham was asked about Westbrook‘s lack of aggressiveness.

Source: Los Angeles Times October 14, 2022 20:41 UTC