On Friday against the Los Angeles Clippers, guard Collin Sexton finally made his debut as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. He had missed all five preseason games and Wednesday's regular-season opener with a lower-leg ailment, and while he didn't put up his usual numbers on Friday, he did make a noticeable impact.
He scored just five points on 2-of-6 shooting in 16 minutes, but he had three steals and helped invigorate L.A.'s perimeter defense in a 125-117 win. Austin Reaves, who led the way with 28 points on 10-of-13 shooting, relayed exactly what Sexton brought the team more than anything else.
“He’s a pest,” Reaves said. “He feeds all the energy. He loves doing the little things and plays the game the right way. So, he’ll have a big impact for what we’re trying to do and can’t wait to build chemistry.”
It is well-known around the league that Sexton is a bucket-getter and an instant offense man off the bench, as well as a capable push man in transition and facilitator. But while he has had a reputation for being a poor defender, he does defend with plenty of energy and effort, and those two things are contagious.
Witness these sequences where Sexton mucked up the game with those two qualities.
One other thing I wrote about in my game observations was Collin Sexton, per Matisse Thybulle "immediately invigorated the game with more energy”.
— Iztok Franko (@iztok_franko) October 24, 2026
I loved this first 'energy boost' possession more than the 3 steals 👇 https://t.co/Mb4ti9BUQPpic.twitter.com/43XK1m8LID
Walker Kessler, one of Sexton's former teammates, co-signed what Reaves said about Sexton's energy.
“Yeah, I mean, he’s a bull,” Kessler said of Sexton. “There’s a reason why that’s his handle. But yeah, he’s a maniac, man. I love Bull. You know, every possession, offense, defense, he’s got a certain chip on his shoulder, just plays with a certain tenacity. As far as leadership, you know, he gets the guys going with just his energy. He’s everywhere screaming, balling his fist. I mean, all y’all can see it. That kind of stuff is contagious.”
The Lakers will face the Jazz, the team Kessler and Sexton once played together on, on Sunday. The Jazz have an intriguing young roster that is capable of challenging Los Angeles, and while Sexton may remain on a minutes restriction, his game and overall spirit will be needed in order for L.A. to improve to 3-0.
This article originally appeared on Lakers Wire: Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler on one thing Collin Sexton brings Lakers