Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle #30 is blocked by Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green #23 in the first half. The Los Angeles Lakers Played the Golden State Warriors in a regular season NBA game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA 1/5/2016 (photo by John McCoy/Los Angeles News Group)

SACRAMENTO — The two men sat next to each other, talking and laughing as if they were best friends. But that hardly marked the images Lakers coach Byron Scott and Julius Randle showed in recent days.

Scott criticized Randle’s defense and pouting for being taken out midway through the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win over Phoenix. The following day, Randle questioned why Scott singled him out in front of the team and to reporters afterwards.

Scott has stood by his statements that the 21-year-old Randle needs to “grow up.” But Scott has attempted to patch things over in recent days. Scott initiated a conversation with Randle on Wednesday to go over his constructive criticisms. During Thursday’s morning shootaround at Sleep Train Arena, Scott and Randle had an extensive conversation that appeared friendly.

“If you want to believe all the reports out there, we have a terrible relationship,” Scott said. “But if you want to know the truth, we have a great relationship.”

Scott described his latest conversation with Randle as a “friendly chat” unrelated to basketball. Randle has not spoken to reporters since Monday. Those around Randle said respects Scott as a coach, but said he had grown frustrated Scott had not provided as much positive reinforcement and direct feedback about his development as he would like. Although Randle has admitted not feeling thrilled with a bench role for the past month, he has still averaged 11.0 points and 9.5 rebounds, which is eighth in the NBA and first overall for second-year players.

“Without all the popular demands on me being not a great communicator with my young guys,” Scott said, “him and I have a great relationship.”

Throughout the season, Scott has often preached for Randle to improve his jump-shot and defense. Before his outburst on Sunday, Randle has agreed with those criticisms. Though Randle routinely works on those areas, the Lakers do not expect him to master those skills until after a full offseason of work.

“I care so much about him as a basketball player and a person, I’m going to be hard on him,” Scott said. “I expect him to be disappointed in certain things. But I expect him to learn and I expect him to be a great player in this league.”

Scott also reported telling Randle that “he’s probably never had adversity in his life on the basketball court since he’s been so good everywhere he’s been” that included excelling at Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, Texas and at one season at the University of Kentucky. But it should be noted that Randle has actually experienced plenty.

In the second game of his senior year of high school, Randle broke the fifth metatarsal in his right foot in what was considered a season-ending injury. Randle returned in time to lead Prestonwood to a state championship. Randle also fractured his right tibia only 14 minutes into his rookie NBA season. He then rehabbed for the next 10 months by improving his diet and film study.

Scott argued the next step entails Randle properly handling any adversity with his latest role.

“‘You’ll have to deal with it, and the way you deal with it will determine how great you’re going to be as a person,'” Scott recalled telling Randle. “Understanding certain situations and knowing when a coach takes you out, it’s never personal with me. It’s all about winning and trying to put young guys in the best position to try to develop them. It’s just understanding this is a process. You have to be mature enough to understand it. He’s going to have his ups and downs. As long as you keep getting up when you get knocked down, we’ll be in great shape.”

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com