Collin Sexton is dead serious about becoming a defensive menace for the Lakers this season, and he’s been putting in the work, pouring over film of two former Laker legends: Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley. This isn’t just about adding a new trick, it’s about fundamentally changing his game.
The Defensive Jump Sexton Needs to Make
Look, we all know Collin Sexton can score. Since getting drafted back in 2018, the dude has consistently shown off serious offensive skills, from his blazing speed and tenacity to his smooth finishing and outside shooting. He’s got that offensive spark. But on the flip side, defense has been a struggle for him, and honestly, that’s probably a huge reason why the Lakers are his fifth team in the past six seasons. It’s a brutal reality, but it’s the truth. Sexton knows his offensive gifts, but he also knows that making real strides on the defensive end is absolutely critical to maximizing his impact for this team. He’s talking about hounding ball-handlers, getting disruptive, and really changing the pace of the game with his D. It’s clearly a huge emphasis for him right now.
Learning From the Best: Smart and Bradley’s Impact
Sexton isn’t just talking, he’s got a game plan. He told reporters at Media Day that he’s been “dialing in a little bit more on the defensive side,” focusing on how he can bring that “competitive juice” and ball pressure. He wants to start picking up full court and be disruptive. Who’s he watching to get there? Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley. He specifically mentioned Smart’s job last year, how physical he was both on and off the ball, just being a total pest. And Avery Bradley? Sexton studied how he “never got screened,” how he was “always fighting through anything,” and how his “competitive juice helped the team win.” Sexton sees a role he can compete in by emulating those two, acknowledging he can shoot and score, but on defense, those guys are who he’s “really focusing in and watching stealing things from, for sure.”
Breaking Down the Screen Barrier
One of Sexton’s biggest defensive headaches, beyond just the usual stuff for smaller guards, has been his screen navigation. Historically, he gets caught on screens way too often, getting pulled out of the play and leaving his teammates scrambling to cover for him. It’s a problem. He’s got the lateral agility and the physicality to be a one-man press, no doubt, but that only takes you so far if opponents can just neutralize you with a simple screen. If he can genuinely become much more effective at fighting around those screens, whether in the backcourt or half-court, it’s a massive leap for his game and for the Lakers’ defense.
If Sexton can actually fix that screen navigation issue and truly bring the disruptive, tenacious energy he’s been watching on film, he won’t just be an offensive spark. He’ll be a real two-way force the Lakers desperately need. This isn’t just about his scoring anymore, it’s about maximizing his overall impact and making this latest stop a long-term home. Keep an eye on his defense when the season kicks off; it could be the key to a huge jump in his career.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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