How Collin Sexton is rapidly casting large shadow despite short tenure with Hornets

LAS VEGAS — Taking a brief respite from enjoying a little Las Vegas Summer League action and hanging with a bunch of new teammates, Collin Sexton leaves little doubt about his level of enthusiasm.

If anyone is wondering how the veteran guard feels less than a month after being dealt to the Charlotte Hornets from the Utah Jazz, the bouncy nature of Sexton’s steps is a dead giveaway. And that’s just on the exterior.

Inside, it’s downright obvious he’s nearly ready to burst.

“Super excited,” Sexton said during a chat with The Charlotte Observer. “Super grateful for the opportunity. Ready to come in and help build the culture, and just be a leader right away. I feel like the last couple of weeks practicing and stuff, it’s been a lot of fun but also getting used to the guys.”

That’s why Sexton has been spotted courtside at Thomas & Mack Center during the Hornets’ summer league action, sitting with a collection of players that includes the likes of LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Brandon Miller, Tre Mann, Josh Green and Spencer Dinwiddie.

Watching games and building up camaraderie is just another step in transitioning to a new franchise for Sexton, 26, an opportunity he believes is a necessity as he seeks to be a leader on a team of mostly young twenty-somethings.

“Yeah, it was huge, definitely was huge,” Sexton said. “That is something that we’ve talked about. We want as many guys here to support the younger guys. As you can see, we’ve had a really good turnout. For sure, a really good turnout.”

Sexton & Co. have been treated to some pretty good performances through the first week-plus of action in the desert. Early impressions of the Hornets’ latest draft class are in and Sexton likes what he’s seeing from the rookies.

“They are having a good time,” Sexton said. “I just told them to go out there and don’t worry about mistakes. Mistakes are going to happen. You guys just continue to play through those mistakes and we are here to help you. We are right here on the sidelines ready to be whatever you need.

“Whether it’s on the court, off the court, whether you have questions about basketball, about life, we all are here and it’s a brotherhood. We’ve got to pick up one another, and when someone is down, be there to encourage them when they need it.”

Originally drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018, Sexton has averaged 18.8 points, 3.7 assists and 2.8 rebounds in seven seasons — numbers on par with the 18.4 points and 4.2 assists he put up in 63 outings with the Utah Jazz this past season, starting in 61 games.

Utah is rebuilding and has younger guards it wants to play, which paved the way for the parting with Sexton. He’s scheduled to earn $18.9 million in 2025-26 the final season of a four-year, $70.9 million contract.

Upon learning he’d been traded to Charlotte, he became invigorated.

“I was just super excited,” Sexton said, “super ready to get to know the coaches and get to know the organization. And it’s not too far from home, so I was super excited about it. That’s for sure.”

Indeed, I-85’s proximity to Spectrum Center is just an added perk for the Georgia native, knowing it provides a perfect avenue to stay in close contact with family.

“Oh yeah, the support system that I have back home in Atlanta — it’s only 3 1/2 hours away,” Sexton said. “So, it’s a quick little drive. So, I’m super excited about that.”

Charles Lee is, too, in his own way, given that Sexton provides the Hornets coach with another weapon to force the opposition to scheme for. In recalling the fiery, gritty demeanor of Sexton, Lee shared a perspective on how his view of one of Charlotte’s top 2025 offseason acquisitions is shaped from a couple of precious encounters.

“Before he got here, from afar he was very competitive,” Lee told The Observer. “At times he would stare me down during games as the opposing coach or scout coach, and he’s always looking for some fuel to get him going. So, when he first got here, I made sure to remind them of that, ‘Like, don’t be looking at me crazy like that anymore or your minutes are going to suffer now.’

“But it’s great. I’m so glad to have him on our side. He brings a fearlessness, competitiveness. His work ethic, even since Day 1 of getting (traded), he was working out in Atlanta. He drove up ASAP, has been in the gym, has been trying to communicate with his teammates, his coaches, the performance staff.”

Lee wasn’t done with the praise.

“He’s just locked it and committed to being a Hornet and I love it,” Lee said. “I already appreciate so much of what he’s kind of giving to our group. Seeing him do group workouts with Melo, them having conversations, I just think it is really important for our group to continue to grow up. And he’s going to be a big part of that with his work ethic and then also with his competitiveness.”

Sexton beamed when Lee’s message was relayed.

“Aw man, great dude, great dude,” Sexton said. “Oh yeah, that’s my guy. But he has that competitive spirit, and that competitive nature and he wants excellence from us. So, at the end of the day, when you are going into battle with a coach who wants nothing but the best for you, then you are going to put it all out there.”

How Sexton fares when joining forces with Ball will be among the most intriguing things to watch, given they can both handle the ball and have the offense run through them. Since being inserted into the starting lineup during his rookie campaign in 2020-21, Ball has mostly served as the primary ball handler when he’s on the floor.

But now with Sexton’s arrival, that could change on occasion, and he envisions their versatility only assisting in the coaching staff’s efforts to keep the opposition guessing and alleviate some of the grinding duties heaped on Ball’s shoulders.

“At the end of the day, the NBA is whoever gets it brings it up and it’s not a ‘1’ guard, a ‘2’ guard,” Sexton said. “It’s we are both out there. On defense you have to help one another, and on offense you have to help on another as well. And you’ve got to make sure that you get the guys in the right situations. I’m super excited.”

In fact, that enthusiasm has spurred the duo to hit the gym several times already.

“Melo and I have been working out these last couple of weeks together,” Sexton said, “and just playing off one another and trying to learn, ‘OK, LaMelo likes his shots here. How can I get him open, how can I get a few easy ones?’ ”

Which, in turn, should relieve some of the extra strain put on Ball.

“Just helping him take pressure off, if he ever gets into the paint or I need to pick up,” Sexton said. “I need to be able to pick up on defense and just being there for him. We talk so much about how can we help one another, and I feel like watching film is going to be a really big thing.”

Consider it a precursor to what should be an entertaining training camp in October. The trick leading up to those first days they officially convene as a group centers around maintaining their current path, and taking certain incremental steps — such as last Thursday’s team-bonding trip to Top Golf in Las Vegas — over the coming days and weeks they hope pay off.

“Just continue to build, continue to practice together, continue to learn from one another and just go out and continue to do team outings,” Sexton said. “Just try to continue to do those things off the court so we can build that trust, because when it’s time for the lights to turn on we’ve got to be ready to go.

“We’ve got to be able to pick one another up. And if one is down, we’ve got to be able to help one another. At the end of the day we want to win games. If we want to win games, we’ve got to do it together.”