If you wanted proof that absence truly makes the heart grow fonder, look no further than the gaping void Collin Sexton left in the Lakers’ preseason. When he signed with Los Angeles this summer, the expectations for Sexton seemed simple: get buckets, attack downhill, and spell Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves from having to bring the ball up every possession. But after watching the early goings, it’s clear those duties weren’t just expected. They’re vital.
The Lakers Needed This Guy Yesterday
Seriously, with every wild Jaden Hardy pull-up and Bronny James’ herculean effort to even create space against an end-of-the-bench defender, it became blindingly obvious that Sexton’s skillset isn’t some luxury for the team. It’s a straight-up necessity. Now, don’t get it twisted, it’s totally unfair and unwise to expect Sexton to replicate the caliber of offense that walked out the door with LeBron James, Marcus Smart, and Luke Kennard. That’s a huge ask. But he absolutely has to be a facsimile of what those guys brought to the table. At 6’3″, Sexton might not look like he’s built to carry such a big responsibility, but trust me, this dude’s a basketball-playing pitbull. He dribbles with a snarl, dashes with a snarl, defends with a snarl. He’s the living embodiment of a snarl, and his bite backs up that bark.
Sexton’s Game Brings The Fire
The combo guard weaves and tunnels around and underneath defenses with that quick first step and his arsenal of inside-and-out dribbles. He attacks first and asks questions second, and that aggressive approach is why Sexton averaged 12.9 drives in just 23 minutes per game last season. For context, that number would’ve ranked third on the Lakers last season, right behind only Dončić and Reaves. It’s not just getting downhill either. He’s got the bulk and craft to get shots up once he touches the paint. Sexton bulldozed his way to 271 attempts within five feet last season, according to the league’s tracking data. That number is more than notable players like James Harden, De’Aaron Fox, and Jalen Brunson. These drives are exactly what should help kickstart the offense next to the stars and create advantages for those second units that are just dying for some shot creation. He’s not the athletic runaway train that James was, but he can absolutely help make sure the north and south dimension of the offense isn’t completely gone.
More Than Just Drives: A Steady Presence
Beyond what we saw trotted out in the preseason, Sexton is simply a professional who’s done this job before. He’s got eight years of reps under his belt, finishing in the 80th percentile or higher in usage rate six times and hitting the 82nd percentile or higher in assist percentage at his position the last three seasons. That’s some serious on-ball juice! And his outside shooting? That’s just going to boost his functionality in any lineup. Even though everyone talks about his ferocious drives, Sexton has quietly been one of the steadier shooting guards since he entered the league. He’s not going to be shooting off pindowns or flare screens like Kennard did, but defenses cannot just willfully ignore him, especially in standstill situations. This early in the season, it’s clear the Lakers are going to rely on him to bring that consistent, aggressive edge.
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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