Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham had some encouraging words for veteran Russell Westbrook after he announced the former MVP would be coming off the bench for the team's pre-season finale against the Sacramento Kings.
"It’s not a demotion; it’s a realignment," said Ham on Friday.
Westbrook has started every regular season game he's played in since his sophomore 2009-10 season.
The decision came after Westbrook didn't join the Lakers pre-game huddle ahead of their pre-season contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.
Westbrook was also reluctant to join an on-court huddle held by teammate Patrick Beverley, who he's had history with going back to April 2013 when a collision between the two led to Westbrook tearing his meniscus, ruling him out for the remainder of the Oklahoma City Thunder's postseason run.
On Thursday, the nine-time all-star dismissed the viral video of the pre-game huddle, saying non-participation is his typical ritual that he's been doing for his entire career.
"Pregame, I've been doing that since I've been in the league for years, man," Westbrook said after practice Thursday. "I think they just cut the video and obviously the internet is going to take it and run with whatever they need to run with. But, I've been doing the same ritual since I've been in the league."
Westbrook would go on to defend his apparent reluctance to join the on-court huddle as well.
"As far as the other video, I was actually talking to the coaches and they cut that video in half as well," Westbrook said. "I was talking to the coaches about a missed coverage. So, I don't pay no mind to it, man."
In the 2021-22 season, his first with the Lakers, Westbrook averaged 18.5 points (his lowest total since 2009-10), 7.4 rebounds, 7.1 assists and a 29.8 per cent three-point percentage.
