Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 positive takeaways from 2019-20 so far
By Amadou Sow
Collin Sexton is turning into a star right before our eyes
For the post-Big Three era, in reference to previously LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love together, the biggest goal for the Cavaliers has been finding a player that could both lead this franchise and help to fill seats.
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Only two years removed from LeBron’s departure after his second stint with Cleveland, and we may have that guy in Collin Sexton. Sexton’s start to his career was a rocky one, to say for the most part, though.
Sexton hasn’t shown great playmaking abilities and in his rookie season, a report came out from Vardon (subscription required) that veterans on the team at the time and/or there were members of the organization then that thought Sexton “doesn’t know how to play.”
After George Hill was traded last season, Sexton was given full reigns to a starting guard position and took full advantage of it.
Sexton became just the third player in NBA history, after Larry Bird and Stephen Curry, to average at least 16 points per game on at least 40.0 percent shooting from three-point land and 80.0 percent from the free-throw line as a rookie, according to Basketball Reference.
The craziest part about him is that there seems to be another level that he can get to and we may have caught a glimpse of it during the Cavs’ post-All-Star break run. After an up-and-down start to the season for Sexton, he seemed to put it all together after the New Year.
Since January 1, Sexton has been averaging 23.6 points and 3.6 assists per game on 49.2 percent from the field, 44.9 percent from three-point land and 86.8 percent from the free-throw line, according to Basketball Reference. Clearly, Sexton has taken it up a notch in most of the time after Jordan Clarkson was traded to the Utah Jazz in late December, it seems.
Sexton’s play has taken an even higher leap since the promotion of J.B. Bickerstaff to head coach, as in the last 11 games, he has been averaging 25.5 points and 4.2 assists per game on 52.8 percent from the field and 43.1 percent from the three-point line. Could Garland missing five games leading into the season’s hiatus because of a left groin strain have played into that some?
Sure, but with Sexton’s legendary work ethic, the sky is the limit for the Young Bull. At just 21 years old, Sexton has shown the ability to drop 20 points a game with ease and his impact should help the Cavs for many years to come.