Collin Sexton is officially a Laker, and he didn’t sign for the weather or the Hollywood cameos. He chose L.A. because he wants to win and he wants to compete. That’s it. That’s the pitch.
Speaking for the first time since his two-year deal with the Lakers was announced, Sexton kept it pretty straightforward. He said the main thing that drew him to the purple and gold was opportunity. Not just any opportunity, but the chance to play meaningful games under the brightest lights in the league.
“Honestly I would say just opportunity. Opportunity to go out and win and be able to compete each and every night,” Sexton said. “I feel like that’s something that needs to be shown that I bring each and every day is that want to compete but also that want to win. Every day they’re going to be in the bright lights and every day they’re going to have all eyes on them.”
That quote is from Khobi Price of The California Post, and it basically sums up what the Lakers are hoping Sexton brings off the bench. Last season, L.A.’s second unit could go cold fast, especially from the guard spots. Sexton gives them a guy who can create his own shot and get to the rim. He’s not a pure point guard, but he doesn’t need to be when Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are handling the ball.
What Sexton Actually Brings to the Table
Sexton is entering his ninth NBA season. That’s wild to think about given he was the No. 8 pick in 2018 and still only 26 years old. He split last year between Charlotte and Chicago, playing 68 games and starting 22 of them. He averaged 15.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in a little over 23 minutes a night.
His shooting numbers are where it gets interesting. He shot 48.5 percent from the field, 40.1 percent from three and 85.5 percent from the line. That’s legit. He’s not just a volume scorer. He actually hit his threes at a high clip last season, which matters a ton for a Lakers team that needs spacing around Doncic and Reaves.
He also plays with a certain edge. Sexton has always had that pit bull mentality. He’s not the biggest guard, but he gets into guys and he doesn’t back down. For a bench unit that sometimes lacked that kind of juice, that matters.
The Lakers Got a Steal or a Gamble
It’s a two-year deal, so the risk is low. If Sexton fits, great. If he doesn’t, it’s not a long-term problem. But the early read from Summer League chatter is that the Lakers think they added a real piece. Not a star. Not a savior. Just a dude who can come in and score, and that’s honestly something they needed.
They didn’t pay him like a headliner. They paid him like a solid rotation guard who gives them something they didn’t have. And Sexton seems to understand exactly what his role is. He’s not coming in with big expectations about starting or being the guy. He’s coming in to compete and win. For Lakers fans who watched last season’s second unit struggle to score in big moments, that sounds pretty good.
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