Collin Sexton joked that LeBron James always seems to leave whenever he arrives, but the veteran guard is excited to help the Lakers begin a new era with championship aspirations.
Collin Sexton has found himself in an unusual coincidence twice during his NBA career.
After joining the Cleveland Cavaliers as the No. 8 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, LeBron James left in free agency just days later to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Eight years later, history repeated itself after Sexton signed a two-year, $19 million contract with the Lakers this summer, shortly after James announced he would not return to the franchise.
During his introductory media session in Las vegas, Sexton laughed about the strange timing.
"He's just leaving every time I arrive," Sexton joked in his first media appearance in Las Vegas during the Summer League. "One of the other coaches made the same joke yesterday. It's cool. I've always wanted to team up with him, for sure."
Although the opportunity to play alongside James never materialized, Sexton is embracing the chance to become part of a retooled L.A. roster entering the first season of the post-LeBron era.
A Fresh Opportunity in L.A.
Sexton said the Lakers presented exactly what he was looking for in free agency: a chance to compete for wins every night.
"Honestly, I would say just like opportunity," Sexton said. "Opportunity to go out and win and be able to compete each and every night."
Collin Sexton (2) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. The veteran guard also revealed that conversations with head coach JJ Redick and general manager Rob Pelinka centered around building a tougher, faster team capable of dictating the pace on both ends of the floor.
Sexton welcomed Redick's demanding coaching style, saying he enjoys being challenged because it brings out the best in his game. He also praised DonÄiÄ, calling him one of the league's smartest players and someone teammates can feed off throughout a game.
Collin Sexton (2) gestures after scoring against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Bringing Energy Off the Bench
Sexton arrives after another productive NBA season split between the Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls. Across 68 games, he averaged 15.4 points, 3.3 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals while shooting 40.1% from 3-point range.
Now entering his ninth NBA season, Sexton owns a career average of 18.3 points over 475 games.
His best offensive campaign came during the 2020-21 season with Cleveland, when he averaged a career-high 24.3 points per game in 60 games.
While his role in L.A. may be different than earlier in his career, Sexton's relentless attacking style, speed and competitiveness should provide an immediate boost to the second unit. The Lakers have spent the offseason reshaping their roster, and Sexton appears ready to embrace whatever role helps the team chase another championship.
Ironically, he never got the opportunity to share the floor with James despite twice arriving as the future Hall of Famer departed. Instead, Sexton now has the chance to help write the next chapter of Lakers basketball alongside a new generation of stars.
