Lakers' Scott: Randle has 'got to grow up'

Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott didn't mince words Monday regarding Julius Randle's demeanor.

"He's got to grow up," Scott told reporters when questioned about removing the sophomore power forward from Sunday's win over the Phoenix Suns. "Simple as that.

"The main thing I don't like is, when you take him out of a game, how he acts sometimes," Scott continued. "But again, I chalk it up to immaturity and just being inexperienced at this level because it's going to happen again. I'm going to take him out of other games that he's not going to like."

For his part, Randle disagreed with Scott singling out his defensive effort during the Lakers' 20-point victory.

"I don't think there was defense on the court at all in the fourth quarter, and he singled me out," Randle said. "I think it was a team thing."

If there's one thing that can be deduced from Scott's coaching style, it's that he tends to prefer veterans over youth. Rookie guard D'Angelo Russell has also spent time in Scott's doghouse this season, with the coach preferring more minutes for veteran chucker Lou Williams.

Randle missed all but 14 minutes of his rookie campaign in 2014-15 after breaking his leg in the first game of the season. He's shown his obvious upside in stretches this season, averaging a near double-double and ranking fifth in the NBA in defensive rebound percentage.