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ATLANTA — As Collin Sexton tries to find his groove with the Lakers, coach JJ Redick has reiterated a sentiment during conversations with the veteran guard.
Patience.
“He can want it so bad,” Redick said of Sexton.
That competitive fire, and sense of urgency, is what drew the Lakers and the 27-year-old guard to each other during the offseason when Sexton signed a two-year, $19 million contract with the franchise.
But Sexton is learning that it’s going to take time for him to get where he wants with the Lakers.
Especially when factoring in the time he missed during the preseason and training camp as he recovered from a strained right calf.
So after having one of his best games of the season in the Lakers’ win over the Hawks on Monday, the former Alabama guard was once again reminded of the importance of patience.
“That’s one word I’ve been using each and every day,” Sexton said. “I’ve been praying to God every day to give me patience and allow me to continue to work my way into a role that I like but also work my rhythm and get back to where I feel like you know what I’m back. So I would say each and every day is going to have its ups, have its downs but I’m blessed to be able to go out there and healthy enough to go out there.”
Sexton’s been up more than down lately as he gets his rhythm back.
He had 18 points and 6 assists in the win over the Hawks, which marked the first time he scored in double figures and finished with a positive plus/minus in back-to-back games this season after having 17 points in Sunday’s win over the Pistons.
“Maybe another week and a half, two weeks and I’ll be back [to normal],” Sexton said. “Right now, these last two games felt really good. So I’m moving in the right direction.”
It’s notable that Sexton’s best games of the season have come when with either Luka Dončić or Austin Reaves sidelined.
He scored a season-high 21 points in the Oct. 28 win over the Clippers, which Dončić was sidelined for.
“He gets a little sped up, or defensively for us right now he’s kind of just everywhere,” Redick said. “And not like in a good way. So that’s just some stuff going back to being able to practice and show film and just clean some stuff up at the end of the week. But clearly, we won two road games [now three after Monday’s victory] with him having a big role. We we wouldn’t have won those games if he wasn’t part of that. So he’s been great for us.
