Collin Sexton Addresses New Role With Lakers and Why It’s Working

Collin Sexton has a straightforward approach when the Los Angeles Lakers change their lineup. He figures out what the group needs from him and goes to work.

Asked how he adjusts to who’s available after Monday’s 124-114 win over the Atlanta Hawks, Sexton pointed to the different jobs he’s already had in his career. He also credited the trust he has built with Lakers head coach JJ Redick for allowing him to “play free” and stay aggressive.

“I’ve played every role, so it’s nothing that’s new to me,” Sexton said.

The Lakers saw the value of that experience in Atlanta. Sexton scored 18 points and handed out six assists off the bench, helping Los Angeles extend its winning streak to six games.

A reserve guard’s responsibilities can change before he even leaves the floor. Sexton might spend one stretch spacing the floor while Luka Dončić handles the ball, then take over as the primary ball handler once Dončić checks out. Those assignments ask him to read the game differently from one possession to the next.

Playing alongside Dončić, Sexton can punish a defender for helping off him or attack a closeout after the ball swings his way. When he’s the one initiating, he can use his speed to turn the corner and make the next pass if a second defender steps up. Redick can change who plays around him and still have a guard willing to make either read.

That’s where the trust Sexton described comes into play. He knows Redick wants him to attack when he sees an opening, even if he spent the previous few possessions playing off the ball. For a player whose touches can vary with the lineup, that clarity matters.

Sexton shot 6-for-11 from the field and made three of his four 3-point attempts. He also finished with six assists and just one turnover, giving the Lakers another player who could create a shot without giving away possessions.

That production mattered in a game that tightened after halftime. Atlanta outscored Los Angeles 33-27 in the third quarter and entered the fourth down five. The Lakers won the final period by five and finished with 49 bench points, 18 of them from Sexton.

Dončić led the Lakers with 32 points and 10 assists, while Walker Kessler added 21 points and 10 rebounds. Sexton’s contribution gave Los Angeles a third player who could take on a meaningful share of the offense.

His shooting helped when others had the ball, and his passing gave Redick a reason to put it back in his hands.

The next lineup change might call for more shooting from Sexton or more time running the offense. Against Atlanta, the Lakers needed both, and he delivered both in the same game.