Lakers' Russell Westbrook Suffers Hamstring Injury vs. Kings After Coming off Bench

The Los Angeles Lakers announced that guard Russell Westbrook will be out for the rest of the preseason game against the Kings on Friday with a left hamstring injury.

At the end of the first quarter, he was seen limping off the court. He was on the bench when the game was still going on.

The Lakers announced on Friday that they were going to be coming off the bench, something that hasn't happened since his freshman year.

Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn

ESPN reporting with @Mcten: The Lakers are planning to bring Russell Westbrook off the bench in the final preseason game vs. Kings tonight (ESPN, 10 ET). Darvin Ham and Westbrook have been exploring possibility of Westbrook quarterbacking second unit and they'll try it tonight.

The head coach gave an explanation.

Chris Haynes @ChrisBHaynes

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham on Russell Westbrook coming off the bench tonight: “It’s not a demotion; it’s a realignment.”

The final decision hadn't been made for the regular season, but he made it clear that the change was taken in stride by the player.

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter

Darvin Ham on trying Westbrook off the bench: “He’s been a pro. He totally understood. He said ‘Yeah coach, whatever you need me to do.’

For him to trust us and what we’re trying to take some notes on - him being in that part of the rotation - my hat’s off to him.

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter

Ham added: “The door isn’t closed on Russ starting - we need to explore it further. We’re not at the finish line, we’re at the starting blocks.”

The Lakers could be in a tough spot to start the season if they have to deal with the loss of Westbrook.

According to Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic, L.A. opens the season on Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors, and it could be without Dennis Schrder due to a finger injury.

The Rally @TheRally

"The Lakers do have some worry that this could be a long-term injury for him."

NBA Insider @ShamsCharania reports on Dennis Schroder's finger injury and the latest on Russell Westbrook coming off the bench. pic.twitter.com/o7rRxmfK8b

If the two guys are out, the onus is on Patrick to take the back court. Max Christie was in the starting lineup on Friday. It's the same thing for both of them.

As the regular season looms, the Lakers will wait and see how the injury goes.