MY ACCOUNT
Russell Westbrook was forced out of the Los Angeles Lakers final preseason early due to a hamstring injury which head coach Darvin Ham says will be re-evaluated on Saturday.
Westbrook exited with 2:34 remaining in the first quarter of the 133-86 loss to the Sacramento Kings with a left hamstring concern.
The 2017 NBA MVP had started from the bench in the game as part of a potential new role, but he did not last beyond the opening period, playing five minutes with no points and one assist.
“He told me he thought he’d be fine,” Ham told reporters after the game. “But we’ll be re-evaluating him in the morning.”
Ham had insisted pre-game Westbrook’s role off the bench was “not a demotion”, rather a “realignment” following the Lakers’ poor 2021-22 season where they missed the playoffs.
The Lakers will open their 2022-23 NBA season against reigning champions, the Golden State Warriors, on Tuesday.
Anthony Davis was absent for Friday’s preseason finale for precautionary reasons due to lower back tightness.
