Collin Sexton has been in Los Angeles for about five minutes and he is already telling anyone who will listen exactly how he wants to play. The Lakers signed the veteran guard to a two-year deal and instead of talking about his scoring numbers or his comeback from a knee injury, Sexton started dropping names. Two names, specifically. Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley.
That is not a typical answer you hear from a guy who once averaged 24.3 points a game. Most players in that situation talk about fitting in offensively or spacing the floor. Sexton talked about defensive tape.
“I watched a lot of the playoffs,” Sexton said. “I watched a lot of [Smart] over the years… watched a little bit of like Avery Bradley as well. How he was able to change the pace on defense. That was a while ago, but just watching him and his competitive nature, that’s my guy.”
Smart is a former Defensive Player of the Year. Bradley was one of the best on-ball defenders the Lakers had during his two stints with the team. Both of them played with a kind of relentless energy that Sexton thinks he can replicate. And the Lakers, under first-year head coach JJ Redick, are apparently buying what he is selling.
Why Sexton Studied Those Guys
Sexton did not just name-check them. He went back and watched their film. Specifically, he studied how Bradley changed the pace of a defensive possession and how Smart navigated playoff basketball without needing to be the primary scorer. For a guard who has spent most of his career being asked to score, that represents a shift in mindset.
“I feel like those two guys have been able to really lock in,” Sexton added. “I think I can bring that to this team.”
If the Lakers get that version of Sexton, they might have found something. The roster needed another guard who could pressure the ball without fouling and fight through screens without giving up. Sexton has built a reputation as one of the toughest competitors in the league since Cleveland drafted him eighth overall in 2018. He made All-Rookie Second Team. He averaged 24.3 points during the 2020-21 season. Then the knee injury happened, and he had to rebuild his game in Utah before bouncing to Charlotte and Chicago last season.
With the Hornets and Bulls, Sexton averaged 15.4 points and shot 40.1 percent from three. Those numbers are fine. But the Lakers already have scorers. What they need is someone who can guard on the perimeter and make life harder for opposing point guards.
What This Means for the Lakers Rotation
Sexton coming in and talking about defense is a good sign. But the real test will be whether he can actually do it against starters on a nightly basis. Smart and Bradley set a high bar. Smart won Defensive Player of the Year. Bradley made two All-Defensive teams. That is a tough standard for anyone to meet.
Still, the Lakers needed a guard with a chip on his shoulder. Sexton has that. He also has the competitive edge that Bradley brought and the relentless style that Smart plays with. If he can combine that with his scoring ability, he could become one of the more impactful two-way players on this roster.
Sexton is not promising to be the next Marcus Smart. But he is promising to try. And for a Lakers team that has struggled with defensive consistency, that kind of talk is a start.
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