It’s been a wild rookie season for the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Collin Sexton. After facing some tough competition in the first half of the campaign, Sexton was not selected to the Rising Stars Challenge roster.
More from Cavs News
- 3 possible starting lineups for Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023-24
- 4 players the Cavaliers should pursue in 2024 free agency
- NBA Expert says Cavaliers backcourt just won’t work
- When does NBA Training Camp start? When do Cavaliers start?
- Prominent NBA agent says LeBron had a harder path than Jordan
After his Cleveland Cavaliers teammate, Cedi Osman, was selected to the World’s roster for the Rising Stars Challenge, there was a semblance of hope that Collin Sexton would make Team USA’s roster. A spot had been freed up due to an injury to Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball and as a result, someone would have to fill it.
Sexton was in the running for possibly replacing Ball in the game. With such an up-and-down season for him thus far, it would be quite the feat for the 20-year-old. More importantly, talk about a confidence boost for the “Young Bull.”
Alas, Sexton was not chosen to be a part of the 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend festivities. Instead, the New York Knicks’ rookie Kevin Knox earned the final spot in the game, the league announced today.
This could be taken a few different ways by Sexton.
Of course, the initial reaction could be dejection or disappointment following the announcement. It seems like everyone has counted out the former Alabama standout, including his own teammates at times. Even when Sexton shows some improvement in other facets of his game, the nitpicking is in full force when it comes to his weaknesses. It has to get frustrating to feel like you can’t do anything correctly.
Or Sexton could use this as fuel to add to his fire. Already known as a feisty competitor, the rookie could remember who made the contest over him while he’s watching the festivities. He could make a note of this occasion and use it as extra motivation, much like Draymond Green does when thinking about who was drafted ahead of him.
The latter would be the best way for Sexton to look at the setback. He can’t allow himself to dwell on the hard times he’s faced very early in his career or it will eat him up. Instead, he should almost be thankful that he’s being slighted, as it’s something he’s seemed to relish as he makes his NBA journey.