FILE PHOTO: Jan 19, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton reacts after a play during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo
Some Los Angeles Lakers players had a heated verbal exchange with coach Luke Walton after Saturday night’s loss to the Golden State Warriors, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Charania reported that some Lakers veterans, though only Michael Beasley is named, “had an emotionally charged verbal exchange” with Walton after he began speaking about playing unselfishly during his postgame address to the team.
The dispute, while said to be heated, did not turn physical, according to the report.
Playing without LeBron James again, the Lakers had rallied to take a 10-point lead in the third quarter but let it slip away in a 115-101 loss.
James is expected to return when the Lakers visit Indiana on Tuesday.
The Lakers also are likely on edge as the team pursues New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis, who has demanded a trade and reportedly has a mutual interest in going to Los Angeles.
According to ESPN, the Lakers are willing to part with a combination of picks and players, including Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and Lonzo Ball, to acquire Davis and pair him up with James.
The trade deadline is Thursday.
—Field Level Media