Collin Sexton wants to strengthen the Lakers’ bench while borrowing defensive habits from Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley.
Collin Sexton sees an opportunity to help the Los Angeles Lakers in the minutes when their leading players need support.
The new guard has identified bench production as a need, but his media day comments outlined a broader assignment. He wants to bring energy immediately, compete regardless of the score and become more disruptive defensively.
“I feel like coming in and coming off the bench and bringing that spark is a big thing in the NBA,” Sexton said.
For a team built around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, that gives Sexton a straightforward purpose. He can provide another scoring option while helping the reserve group maintain the intensity needed to keep games from slipping away.
His challenge will be making that impact consistently across different lineups and situations.
Scoring support for Dončić and Reaves
Sexton averaged 15.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 68 games last season. He shot 48.5% from the field, 40.1% from 3-point range and 85.5% from the free-throw line.
That production gives the Lakers an established offensive option behind their primary creators. His shooting can help when he plays off the ball, while his ability to attack offers a different approach when the offense needs penetration.
The potential benefit is especially clear when Dončić rests. Sexton can put pressure on a defense instead of requiring the remaining players to generate every opportunity through set plays.
He also arrives with familiarity that could help his adjustment. Sexton said he has a strong connection with former Utah teammate Walker Kessler, including time spent working out and socializing together. He also previously played with Jarred Vanderbilt.
Those relationships offer a starting point as the Lakers integrate their new players. Sexton described Kessler as someone who shares his daily approach to work, and he said knowing teammates already provides a sense of comfort.
Studying Smart and Bradley
Sexton’s most specific media day comments concerned defense. He said he has discussed physicality and ball pressure with the coaching staff, including picking up full court at selected moments to change the pace.
He pointed to Marcus Smart’s physical play last season and said he has studied film of former Lakers guard Avery Bradley, particularly how Bradley fought through screens.
“I watched some film of Avery Bradley as well when he was here and how he just never got screened,” Sexton said.
Those are useful examples for a guard who wants his contributions to extend beyond scoring. Applying pressure can disrupt an opponent’s timing, but it requires discipline to avoid fouls or leaving teammates exposed behind the play.
Sexton acknowledged that he needs to choose when to increase that pressure rather than apply it indiscriminately. His comments suggest an emphasis on reading the game and using his energy with purpose.
He also said the team’s potential depends on players identifying their roles and making sacrifices, including taking charges, boxing out and fighting over screens.
That is the standard Sexton has set for himself: deliver offense while giving the Lakers useful bench minutes through effort, physicality and defensive execution.
