If you wanted proof that absence makes the heart grow fonder, look no further than how much of a void Collin Sexton left in the Lakers’ preseason.
When he signed with Los Angeles over the summer, the expectations for Sexton were simple. Get buckets, get downhill and spell Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves from having to bring the ball up the court every possession.
Those duties haven’t changed. But their importance may have been undersold given the other options on the roster.
With every audacious Jaden
Hardy pull-up and Bronny James’ Herculean attempt to create space against an end-of-the-bench defender, it became clearer that Sexton’s skillset on the team isn’t a luxury, but rather a necessity.
It is 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. But he will have to be a facsimile of what they brought to the table.
At 6’3”, Sexton may not look like he has the stature to take on such a large responsibility, but make no mistake, he’s a basketball-playing pitbull. He dribbles with a snarl. He dashes with a snarl. He defends with a snarl. He’s the living embodiment of a snarl.
Sexton’s bite can also back up his bark.
The combo guard weaves and tunnels around and underneath the defense thanks to his quick first step and plethora of inside-and-out dribbles. He attacks and asks questions second.
This aggressive approach is why Sexton averaged 12.9 drivesin just 23 minutes per game. For context, that number would have ranked third on the Lakers last season behind only Dončić and Reaves.
It’s not just his ability to get downhill. He also has the bulk and craft to get shots up when 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 should help start the blender next to the stars and create advantages for second units devoid of shot creation.
He is not the athletic runaway train that James was, but he can help ensure the north and south dimension of the offense is not absent altogether.
Unlike who the Lakers trotted out in the preseason, Sexton is also simply a professional who has done the job the team requires before.
With eight years of reps under his belt, Sexton has finished in the 80th percentile or higher in usage rate six times and in the 82nd percentile or higher in assist % at his position the last three seasons.
Beyond his credible on-ball juice, Sexton’s outside shooting should also boost his functionality and viability in any lineup. Despite being known more for the ferocity of his drives, Sexton has quietly been one of the steadier shooting guards since entering the league.
Although he is not going to shoot off pindowns or flare screens like Kennard, Sexton is not a player defenses can willfully ignore either, especially in standstill situations.
Last season, Sexton converted 44.6% of his 175 catch-and-shoot threes. It’s a number that will definitely play next to two of the best drive-and-kick players in the league.
Like any other role player, Sexton is also not without his warts.
His aggressiveness will lead to turnovers. His defense is often more performative than impactful. And he has yet to prove himself on a team with actual postseason aspirations.
All that said, the Lakers ultimately do not need Sexton to be James, Smart or even Kennard this season. That would help, but it is not realistic. Instead, they need him to be exactly who he has been throughout career with hopefully a little fine-tuning along the way.
How successful he will be is still unknown as it remains to be seen when Sexton will finally make his debut. As of this piece, the guard is listed as questionable for the Lakers’ season opener against the Golden State Warriors.
If the preseason was any indication, Los Angeles can not afford Sexton to miss any considerable amount of time this year. His importance is due to, yes, his underrated talent, but also the uninspiring caliber of the Lakers’ alternatives.
For the team’s sake, Sexton’s value this season will be derived from the former.
All stats courtesy of Cleaning the Glass unless otherwise stated. You can follow Alex on Bluesky at @alexregla.bsky.social
