Collin Sexton was touted by many, myself included, as the likely starting point guard for the Utah Jazz since he was acquired from Cleveland in the Donovan Mitchell trade. Instead, Sexton has started just 19 out of the 75 games he’s suited up for the Jazz.
It’s worth mentioning that with Mike Conley still on the Jazz roster through a good chunk of last season, head coach Will Hardy opted to use Sexton as his primary backup. After Conley was dealt, Sexton suffered an injury that took away some games he would’ve likely started.
Now, with the injuries to Keyonte George and Jordan Clarkson, Sexton has emerged in the starting lineup once again, and this time, he’s turning it into an audition for a permanent gig. As a starter over the past four games, the explosive guard is averaging an impressive 27 points on 52.9% from the floor, 38.5% from deep, and 92.3% from the free throw line.
Sexton is also chipping in 4.5 assists and just 1.8 turnovers per contest. In short, he’s been fantastic.
So why have things looked so good for Sexton? Let’s start with something that’s anything but inconsistent for him: effort.
Sexton is truly one of the most intense competitors I’ve seen on the Jazz. His energy is infectious, and the Jazz have been playing with a different level of competitive juice over the past few games. Sometimes in this league, the difference between winning and losing can be how hard you’re willing to play.
Over the past four, the Jazz's offensive rating has been over seven points better than their season average. Now, we’re going to need more than four games against iffy competition to declare the team’s problems suddenly fixed, but it’s undoubtedly progress.
One possible explanation for the improvement is the pressure that Sexton puts on the rim. The Jazz have seen their points in the paint rise from 51.5 to 57 per game since Sexton’s insertion into the starting group. This number, if it held for the rest of the year, would be good for second-best in the league.
With the return of George on the horizon, I expect Sexton to remain in the starting lineup alongside their young lead guard. After trying to turn Collin into a point guard, it’s become clear that he’s at his best when he’s not burdened with the responsibility of conducting the offense.
The question is whether Jordan Clarkson, the only Jazzman besides Lauri Markkanen who’s started every game he’s suited up this year, will get moved to the bench upon his return from a hamstring injury. The former NBA Sixth Man of the Year has shown the ability to thrive in that role.
Bottom Line
If the Jazz are better served with Sexton in the starting lineup, it might be worth Coach Hardy making that move. With Clarkson still on the shelf, it’s going to be fun to monitor how Sexton plays with his expanded role.
If the 'Young Bull' keeps it up, it’s going to be tough to move him back to the bench. Whether or not he can keep this level of production up remains to be seen, but for now, Sexton has shown no signs of slowing down.
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