He, too, had been hearing how he's not NBA ready, how he was going to be on ice for a while. His up-and-down status has been a hot topic in Warriors land. Randolph is currently on an up, after totaling eight points, two rebounds and block, with two turnovers, in 14 minutes Wednesday. How long this will last, according to Nelson, is up to Randolph.

There will be minutes for him to nab, as second-year forward Brandan Wright is out a minimum of three weeks, the team announced Thursday. An MRI revealed a dislocated left shoulder, an injury Wright sustained in the final minute of the second quarter Wednesday.

Nelson said before the Lakers game that Randolph had improved his practice habits of late. He didn't offer many specifics other than to say Randolph's been taking it seriously. But other members of the organization, who preferred to remain anonymous, said Randolph started to show up early to practice and stay late. They also noticed he's been keeping his emotions in check unlike the practice in late December when he caught Kurz with an elbow, cutting Kurz's chin and drawing some harsh criticism from team captain Stephen Jackson.

Nelson said Randolph's strides weren't enough to warrant playing time, but that was before Wright's injury.

"Nobody's rooting against this guy," Nelson said. "We're rooting for him. We want him to do well. But he needs to be coached, and we're doing that."

In 14 minutes and 22 seconds, his first action after four games riding the bench, Randolph showed why people clamor for him to play and why Nelson says he's not ready.

He picked up a quick foul and put up a wild attempt at the buzzer to end the half. Early in the third period, he blocked a layup attempt by Lakers guard Derek Fisher, nailed a jumper and was called for traveling all in a span of 54 seconds.

He got two emphatic dunks, baskets he earned by running the floor. He then hit a driving layup and grabbed two offensive rebounds before coming out of the game. His next and final appearance, a four-minute stretch early in the fourth quarter, was marked only by another traveling violation.

"I want to play. I want to win," Randolph said. "Nellie is a great coach, so ... you've got to go along with what he says. Just got to deal with it. ... I don't know (what to expect next game). I'm preparing for the worst. But I'm going to prepare as if I'm going to play the whole game. I have no idea. I'm just trying to ride it out, that's all."

It may not seem like it, but Randolph is getting an opportunity, though maybe not to the degree one would expect from a lottery draft pick or for a player on a team 17 games under .500.

He has appeared in 24 games of 37 games. Wright didn't appear in his 24th game as a rookie last season until March 5. Through Wednesday, Randolph ranks 26th in minutes per game among NBA rookies (Warriors guard Anthony Morrow was 16th) and 28th in total minutes. Nonetheless, Randolph is in the top 10 among rookies in blocks and rebounds.

"This is the process," said B.J. Armstrong, Randolph's agent and a former NBA player. "He's a tough kid. This isn't about Anthony Randolph. He understands that. ... There is no problem. He's going to keep plugging. ... He came to make a contribution to the cause. That cause is winning."

Note: Warriors assistant coach Sidney Moncrief has accepted a consultant position with the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association and will leave the team immediately. Moncrief, a five-time All-Star during an 11-year NBA career, joined the Warriors as shooting coach before the 2007-08 season and was promoted to assistant coach this season.

Contact Marcus Thompson II at mthomps2@bayareanewsgroup.com