Lakers' Frank Vogel Says Russell Westbrook Has 'Got to Find His Way'

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel said it's going to take some time for point guard Russell Westbrook to find his niche in the team's system after arriving in an offseason trade.

Westbrook struggled in his Lakers debut, tallying eight points, five rebounds, four assists and four turnovers in 35 minutes. Vogel told reporters he's still confident in the nine-time All-Star's long-term outlook alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis after the 121-114 loss to the Golden State Warriors:

"Him more than anybody, it's going to be an adjustment period. He's coming into our culture, our system. He's the new guy, and he's got to find his way. It's difficult, when you're used to being the guy who has the ball most nights, to be able to play off of others like Bron and AD. So it's just a little bit different for him. He's going to be great for us, but it's going to be an adjustment period."

It's hard to argue with Vogel's assessment. Westbrook will need time to adjust to a role in which he doesn't have the ball in his hands every possession, and it seemed like he was trying to force things when he was running the offense Tuesday night.

Along with the four turnovers, he also made just four of his 13 shots from the field, including none of his four three-point attempts.

Not only is he sharing ball-handling responsibilities with James within the first unit, but Rajon Rondo will typically handle the point off the bench. So, barring injuries or occasional nights off to rest for other Lakers veterans, Westbrook will need to become more acclimated to playing off the ball at times.

Like Vogel, neither James nor Davis seemed overly concerned about the results from one game.

"I told Russ to go home and watch a comedy," James said. "Do something that can put a smile on his face. He's so hard on himself. I told him, 'Don't be so hard on yourself. It's one game.'"

Davis, who referenced his own sluggish start with the Lakers, added: "We said some things to him, and he smiled and things like that, so I expect him to be better in the game Friday."

Westbrook's track record, which includes the 2016-17 NBA MVP Award, and his ultra competitiveness make him a strong bet to figure things out over time.

In the bigger picture, the Lakers' roster overhaul during the offseason could cause the team to struggle with consistency throughout the first half of the season as everyone settles into their role.

Their raw talent can match up with any team in the league, however, so as long as they stay healthy, they'll likely emerge as a true title contender by the time the playoffs come around.

L.A. will continue the development process Friday night when it hosts the reigning Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns at Staples Center.