Lakers Head Coach Byron Scott Calls Out Julius Randle

Los Angeles Lakers head coach takes another swipe at rookie Julius Randle by questioning his effort.

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When the Los Angeles Lakers selected Julius Randle in the 2014 NBA Draft, many within the organization felt he would be the franchise player the organization needed to take over the team once Kobe Bryant left.

That could still prove to be the case though the 19-year-old has struggled for much of the preseason and is experiencing a difficult transition from the NCAA to the NBA.

Taking note of such is Lakers head coach Byron Scott who has taken off the kiddie gloves and routinely questioned Randle during the preseason including his most recent dig.

Scott has repeatedly said that Randle needs to figure out how to play “harder for longer,” which he hasn’t seen the last few games.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) October 17, 2014

It’s one thing to question a players ability to understand a scheme or set but its another to suggest their effort wasn’t up to par. That’s not exactly something you want to see out of a young player like Julius Randle, especially during his initial few games in the league.

There’s no denying that Scott has taken a tough love approach with Julius Randle though the bigger question is, does it appear to be working? So far that might be disputable as Julius Randle continues to have his on-court issues which Scott has no problem pointing out.

Logic would seem to indicate that Scott knows how his player works and if he needs tough love or to be handled more delicately, though it’s probably not the start he, Randle or Los Angeles Lakers fans hoped going into the preseason.

Randle, who some believed could have opened the season as the starting power forward, is well behind Carlos Boozer in that regard and is likely to come off the bench to begin the year.

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