The Los Angeles entered each of the past three seasons intending to play Gabe Vincent as its backup point guard, with Bronny James learning behind him over the past two. Both James and Vincent are defensive-minded guards who aren’t necessarily known for providing volume in offensive areas, but attempt to offset those limitations with their defense.
The Lakers have completed a rather stunning shift in ideology, however, by signing Collin Sexton and embracing the need for a shot-creating third guard.
Los Angeles signed Sexton to a two-year deal with a second-year team option that displays clear faith in his ability to transform the rotation. He’ll play a pivotal role, as the Lakers parted with LeBron James earlier this summer and have now abandoned the three-star perimeter they built with he, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves.
Rather than going all-in on a third perimeter star, the Lakers have instead invested in a reserve who can anchor the second unit as a scorer and playmaker.
It was a necessary change. Los Angeles’ second unit ranked No. 28 in offensive rating in 2024-25 and No. 23 in 2025-26. Defense will still be an essential facet of what a third guard provides, but the Lakers needed a scorer and playmaker who could elevate the bench.
Sexton is not only qualified to handle that job, but is overqualified and should be a favorite for Sixth Man of the Year honors if he plays at the same level he's previously played at.
Lakers have finally moved on from all-defense, low-offense third guards
Sexton is the epitome of instant offense. He boasts career averages of 18.3 points and 3.6 assists in 29.0 minutes per game, and has done so with impressive efficiency for any perimeter player, let alone a 6'3" scoring guard, with shooting splits of .472/.389/.841.
Sexton has also made considerable improvements as a playmaker over the past three seasons, compiling averages of 24.2 points and 5.7 assists per 36 minutes.
For perspective: Vincent averaged 5.4 points and 1.4 assists in 20.6 minutes per game across three seasons with the Lakers. Those numbers translated to 9.9 points and 2.4 assists per 36 minutes—on .381/.341/.765 shooting.
Sexton averaged 14.3 more points and 3.3 more assists per 36 minutes on .484/.400/.860 shooting during that same three-year stretch.
Vincent is an admittedly excellent defender when healthy, but Sexton isn't necessarily bad himself. He struggles in isolation and must therefore improve, but he ranked in the 77th percentile in off-ball chaser defense, thus implying that he can at least defend away from the ball.
Compounded by the drastic improvement to offensive execution that the second unit should experience, Sexton represents the change that the Lakers desperately needed to make.
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