Collin Sexton labeled as Cavs’ ‘cultural leader’ is spot-on

Recently, there has been a lot of positive press and reports coming out about Cleveland Cavaliers guard and future of the franchise, Collin Sexton.

Getting right to it, the first report involving Collin Sexton comes from virtual media availability with Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman.

When asked about Sexton’s comments about wanting to make the playoffs as soon as next season, Altman was quoted as saying, via Forbes‘ Evan Dammarell, “Collin is our cultural leader and our hardest worker. What he’s saying we’re going to back.”

It is apparent that Sexton is dead set on making the playoffs this season and has clearly put in the work to be seemingly the team’s leader by example on and off of the court to fulfill his goal.

Now, the Cavs would appear to be a ways away from being a realistic postseason squad, but Sexton’s work ethic and drive clearly has had an impact on the Cavs organization, as Altman hit on.

Sexton being considered the “cultural leader” for the Cleveland Cavaliers is spot-on, and other recent reports suggest how he’ll have continued growth.

Another report coming out as the Cavaliers have returned to conduct in-market bubble team workouts/practice sessions is that Sexton has made a huge body transformation during the team’s time off. The Cavs have had an essentially extended offseason, due to them not being an Orlando team, because of novel coronavirus concerns, for further context.

Sexton said, via Fox Sports Ohio Cavs sideline reporter Angel Gray, that he put on “10-15 lbs” of muscle due to eating right/working on his frame, and that should pay dividends for him. And a recent tweet from the Cavs seemingly backs up Sexton’s claim.

This transformation could elevate Sexton’s game to a brand new level this season, even after leading Cleveland in scoring with 20.8 points per outing in year 2. With Sexton being an improved driver/finisher last season around the basket, the new muscle will allow him to absorb and finish through more contact, as KJG’s Dan Gilinsky previously highlighted.

Along with this, Sexton bulking up should only help him in his growth of opposing on-ball defense of 2’s. He’ll seemingly be defending them the majority of the time, factoring in Darius Garland at the 1.

With him only standing a 6-foot-1 and the average shooting guard in the league ranging from 6-foot-3 to 6-foot-6, more times than not Sexton will be guarding a player that is substantially taller than him. This muscle should make it much easier for him to stay in front of and handle physical play from taller guards.

The final piece of news that came out about Sexton is that he has been working on his passing game a bunch, via Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor.

This was one of the biggest weaknesses for the Cavaliers in the 2019-2020 season. The team had no clear primary playmaker and as a result, the team ranked 24th in assists per game.

If it shows to be true and Sexton does become even a solid playmaker and facilitator it could do wonders for the Cavaliers, and pieces such as Kevin Love, Garland himself, Kevin Porter Jr. and others.

In any case, Sexton, who had 3.0 assists per game again in year 2, looking to improve his passing is right in line with him being Cleveland’s “cultural leader,” as Altman said, which was a spot-on comment. That’s when you account for Sexton doing all he can to get better day-to-day and overall, year-to-year.

It appears that Collin Sexton will be the clear leader, at least by example with his work ethic, for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2020-2021 season.

If the improvements he has made off of the court show up on the court, there is a chance that he could be the first All-Star for the Cavaliers since the LeBron James and Kevin Love in the 2017-2018 season.