Collin Sexton reveals the reason he signed with the Lakers alongside Luka Doncic

Collin Sexton has clear reasons for choosing Los Angeles Lakers during free agency. The guard signed a two-year, $19 million contract with the Los Angeles franchise, including a player option for the second season, and believes that Los Angeles offers the perfect setting to compete for significant goals again.

The new Lakers player arrives with the intention of becoming an important piece on the perimeter. Following the departure of LeBron James during the preseason, Sexton can assume a relevant role in a roster that also includes Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. The guard believes that his ability to handle the ball and create plays can help relieve some of the responsibility from other key players.

Sexton explains his arrival at Los Angeles Lakers

In an interview with ESPN, Sexton spoke about his initial experiences as a Lakers player and made it clear that his adaptation is going positively.

"It’s been amazing," he said. "Everyone is very open and welcoming, and it’s been great talking with the coaches and players. There are a lot of new faces, so we are learning together day by day."

The guard has found a locker room in the midst of construction, with several players who also need to adapt to a new dynamic. For Sexton, this situation presents an opportunity to start building something new alongside his teammates.

However, beyond the warm welcome he has received in Los Angeles, there was a fundamental reason that tipped the scale in favor of the Lakers: the chance to compete for victories in a highly demanding environment.

"The opportunity to win" was key for Sexton

Sexton explained during the conversation with ESPN what convinced him most about the opportunity to play in Los Angeles.

“I would say the opportunity to win, to be in an important setting, and to have the chance to step in and make a difference in the victory. I feel like I’ve been on other teams where it’s been much harder. Of course, I’ve always wanted to win, but it's certainly difficult to win in the NBA. It’s a challenge, and every night we play against the best. So I think being in this setting and being able to influence the win every day, and what I bring to the team and the game, is what motivates me. I feel like I fit perfectly,” Sexton added.

The new Lakers player's message is clear. After playing for different teams throughout his career, Sexton believes that Los Angeles provides him with a different opportunity, both due to the level of demand and the potential to have a direct impact on games.

The keys to Sexton's signing

A new challenge after Cleveland and Utah

Sexton was selected with the number 8 pick in the 2018 Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. The guard began his NBA career there and remained for his first four seasons.

In 2019, he received recognition as a member of the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, a sign of the impact he had during his early years in the league.

In 2022, he switched teams after being included in the trade that sent Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland. Sexton was sent to the Utah Jazz along with Lauri Markkanen and Ochai Agbaji, as well as three future first-round picks and two future swap picks.

His time in Utah later ended, and he spent time with the Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls before finally finding a new opportunity in Los Angeles.

Now, the Lakers represent a new chapter in his career and also a different situation from what he has experienced with previous teams.

The role Sexton can play in the Lakers

One of the main questions will be determining how Sexton fits within the Lakers' offensive structure.

The guard can take on ball-handling responsibilities and become a piece capable of creating plays from the perimeter. This characteristic could allow other key players to have less pressure when creating offense.

The context surrounding Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves makes Sexton's arrival particularly interesting. The idea is for him to become a third offensive option while also providing ball-handling capability.

His role shouldn't be limited to just scoring. The possibility of taking on playmaking responsibilities could give him an important function within the rotation.

Sexton wants to take advantage of the Los Angeles setting

Choosing the Lakers represents for Sexton the opportunity to compete in one of the most important settings in the NBA. The player himself explained that this possibility was one of the main reasons that led him to accept the proposal from Los Angeles.

His goal will be to demonstrate that he can have a direct impact on victories and take advantage of the new context to develop an important role.

"It’s been amazing," he acknowledged when talking about his first days with the team, highlighting the welcome he has received from both players and coaches.

Now he will have to bring those good feelings to the court. With Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Collin Sexton as important pieces on the perimeter, the Lakers hope that their new signing can contribute ball handling, scoring, and energy.

For Sexton, the challenge is equally important: after several stints with different franchises, he arrives in Los Angeles seeking something that, in his own words, was decisive in making the decision: the opportunity to win and make a difference every night.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Collin Sexton revela la razón que le llevó a fichar por los Lakers junto a Luka Doncic