The Cleveland Cavaliers are 21-43 on the year. That places them 13th in the Eastern Conference, just two games ahead of the last-place Detroit Pistons.
Although nobody expected much from Cleveland heading into this season, it appears as though the nonstop losing is beginning to wear on players anyway. Specifically, it’s making them turn on arguably the team’s brightest young star: Collin Sexton.
Sexton dominates the ball on a regular basis, as evidenced by his 29 percent usage rate, and apparently some of his teammate’s aren’t too fond of that. They also aren’t especially happy with the way he mocks opposing players during games.
According to Joe Vardon of The Athletic, a potentially chaotic situation is developing in Cleveland right now.
“Various Cavs players still grow frustrated by the way Sexton dominates the ball, and opponents taunt them by saying during games, ‘You know he’s not going to pass you the ball,’” Vardon wrote.
So far this year, Sexton is averaging 24.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. Those are strong stats for a guy who is only in his third year. That said, the problems that his teammates are taking issue with are somewhat troubling. Either he’ll grow out of them, or they’ll get worse as he develops into a better and better player.
If the latter happens, Cleveland could be in trouble going forward.
Interestingly enough, Cavaliers coaches have a very different impression of Sexton than his teammates apparently do. It will be fascinating to see how that dynamic ultimately plays itself out.
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