Bench production was an area of weakness for the Los Angeles Lakers last year, and Collin Sexton’s signing is a step in the right direction toward addressing it.
Sexton earned a reputation as an efficient scorer and most importantly, shot 40.1% from 3-point range last season. As he embarks on a new journey in Los Angeles, the 27-year-old has chosen No. 10 as his jersey number and explained the reasoning behind it.
“I chose 10 because my first organized basketball when I was four-years-old, I wore No. 10 with a Lakers jersey,” Sexton said on the Lakers YouTube channel. “It was cool walking in and seeing my name on a jersey, just a fresh start. It’s Lakers, you know? There’s so much going on here, so much history in the building. I feel like they have the best fans in the world. So being able to go out there and put that jersey on each and every night, that’s going to be a good time for sure.”
It is great to hear Sexton’s backstory behind his jersey number as this is a full-circle moment for him joining the Lakers. Given that history, he clearly understands what it means to suit up in the purple and gold.
Players can easily get blinded by all the outside noise and luxuries that come with playing in a big market. However, the veteran guard is aware of the situation he is stepping into and it bodes well for a team trying to establish a new identity.
Guards were not necessarily an area of need for the Lakers this summer, but Sexton brings much-needed energy off the bench. He certainly has flaws defensively, but there’s nothing wrong with having a player that can ignite an offense off the bench.
Collin Sexton discusses how he got ‘Young Bull’ nickname
Carving out a role can be challenging in the NBA and for Sexton, he found his way as a microwave scorer. Through his playing career, Sexton has earned the nickname of ‘Young Bull,’ which seems to fit his personality perfectly.
It has stuck throughout all this time and Sexton revealed how he got his signature nickname.
“Back home, always like the young one playing up,” Sexton said on the Lakers YouTube channel. “Growing up with my brother and playing maybe three-four grades up, always been like the young bull. ‘Where is he at? Is he going to play?’ So, I feel like that was a nickname that pretty much stuck with me from my childhood all the way up to now.”
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