It appears Russell Westbrook’s days as the Lakers’ starting point guard are numbered.

Westbrook will come off the bench in L.A.’s preseason finale on Friday, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Dave McMenamin. The move is seen as a preview of the Lakers’ possible plan to use the mercurial guard to run the second unit during the regular season.

Should that be the case, it would be the first time in the 33-year-old nine-time All-Star’s career that he is not a starter.

The hope is that doing so would help spark a turnaround after Westbrook had one of the worst seasons in his career last year when he averaged 18.5 points — his lowest output in over a decade — and shot just 29 percent from the three-point line as the Lakers missed the playoffs. A ball-dominant guard, he would also simply be able to operate more easily with the second unit as opposed to being on the floor alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Through five preseason games as a starter, Westbrook has averaged just 7.3 points on 38.9 percent shooting and the Lakers are 1-4. 

Still, it would be major adjustment for the former NBA MVP.

Westbrook has started all but 17 games in his career, with all of those coming during his rookie season in Oklahoma City. Last season, then-Lakers coach Frank Vogel pulled Westbrook from the lineup late in games a number of times, something that didn’t sit well with the guard.

When new Lakers coach Darvin Ham was asked at his introductory press conference in June bout the possibility of Westbrook coming off the bench, Westbrook, who was one of a handful of players in attendance, chuckled at the idea. Ham said the two had spoken, though, and Ham preached a willingness to sacrifice.

Westbrook later echoed that sentiment, telling ESPN before training camp began that he’s “all-in” on “whatever it takes for this team to win” and that he was “prepared for whatever comes my way.”

It looks like we’re about to find out.

The Lakers open the season Tuesday against the Warriors.