The Lakers spent the offseason ripping up a big chunk of the roster, and one of the new faces already looks comfortable in his lane.
Los Angeles brought in nine new players and changed more than half the team, setting the stage for a different kind of season with Luka Doncic at the center. Doncic had a hand in shaping the roster, and one of the names he wanted the Lakers to add was Collin Sexton.
Sexton has appeared in two games so far, and he’s already given the Lakers a sample of what he brings. Offensively, he’s been a spark.
Defensively, he’s held up well enough. More important for the Lakers right now, he has slid into his bench assignment without making it a storyline.
That matters because Sexton has spent most of his career as a starter. In Los Angeles, though, he is set to play a major role as a reserve, and he’s not fighting that arrangement. He has embraced the second unit job and made it clear he’s committed to it.
The fit started with a two-year, $19 million deal he signed in July, and his reason for joining the Lakers went beyond the brand name on the jersey. He said he wasn’t drawn in just by the franchise’s history, but by the chance to join a winning team and have a real role.
That opportunity is what the Lakers offered, and it’s the kind of setup they could have with him this season and beyond.
Sexton brings the type of edge that shows up right away. He’s an athletic combo guard who attacks relentlessly and can score in bunches, and the early returns in Los Angeles have reflected that energy. His defense has long been a question, but there’s no missing the effort or aggression he puts into that side of the ball.
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