With the future of many players uncertain, tensions ran high in the Los Angeles Lakers locker room following their 115-101 defeat to the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night.
Several veterans, including Michael Beasley, had an emotionally charged verbal exchange with head coach Luke Walton, league sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania.
Walton was preaching for his players to play unselfishly, prompting several veterans to snap back. The scene was "heated," sources told Charania.
The veterans raised their voices about Walton's distribution of playing time and selection of rotations, sources told Charania. However, the team was optimistic that the discussion helped "cleanse" its issues.
In addition to Beasley, JaVale McGee and Lance Stephenson were the focus of Walton's message, with McGee particularly taking exception to the comments, according to The Athletic's Sam Amick.
The Lakers dropped to 27-26 and sit two games back of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. LeBron James sat out Saturday's clash due to load management.
