The Los Angeles Lakers moved D'Angelo Russell to a bench role in favor of Jarred Vanderbilt before their 129-120 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Vanderbilt joined the Lakers' regular starters in LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Taurean Prince and Cam Reddish.
"We chose to lean into our defensive side of the ball," Darwin Ham, speaking before the game, said of the change. "And when you play great defense, it makes the offense a little bit easier. And so, just wanted to lean into that side of the ball. Start out a little bit bigger."
Russell's move to the bench reunites him in the backcourt with Austin Reaves. The pair started the first eight games.
"Austin and D-Lo, they've had some really good synergy together on the floor together," Ham said. "And so that second wave allows us to play a little faster, is more offensive. I'm looking forward to both, seeing how this starting lineup applies their pressure on the game early and then also see, once we start to make substitutions, the variety in which we get offensively."