The Los Angeles Lakers entered the 2026 offseason with several well-documented flaws and one nagging issue that consistently flew under the radar. Most were aware of the need for shooting and a reliable interior presence, but the lack of ideal backcourt depth was often glossed over due to how prolific the starters' production has been.
After spending the first 17 months of the Luka Doncic era requiring he and Austin Reaves to be superhuman, however, the Lakers finally cut them some slack by signing Collin Sexton.
Doncic and Reaves combined to average 48.4 points and 13.3 assists per game in 2024-25 and 56.8 points and 13.8 assists in 2025-26. In theory, that all but unmatched balance between them doesn't leave much of a need for production from the other guards on the roster.
The margin for error has bordered on nonexistent, however, which was inevitably unsustainable—particularly with both players enduring injuries in recent years. Thankfully, Sexton can make life easier for them.
Lakers desperately needed a shot-creating third guard
In 2024-25, the Lakers' next-leading guard in points per game was Gabe Vincent at 6.4 in 21.2 minutes per game. Doncic was acquired mid-season, of course, which admittedly skews the data since Max Christie and D'Angelo Russell produced more points than him before they were traded. Christie was a spot-up shooter, however, and Russell was woefully inefficient.
In 2025-26, with a full sample size of data, the Lakers' next-leading guard scorer after Doncic and Reaves was Marcus Smart at 9.3 points in 28.5 minutes per game—on .395/.331/.822 shooting.
Luke Kennard thankfully provided efficiency at 9.0 points in 23.0 minutes on .527/.448/.912 shooting. While Smart was fearless and willing to take any shot he encountered, however, Kennard often came under fire for a lack of assertiveness on offense.
Thankfully, Sexton has arrived to bridge the gap between them and provide the support that Doncic and Reaves desperately need to healthily sustain their success.
Collin Sexton is an excellent shot creator who won't back down
Sexton, 27, boasts career averages of 18.3 points per game and 22.8 points per 36 minutes on .472/.389/.841 shooting. He's adept at both playing without the ball and creating for himself with it in his hands, which is the exact balance Los Angeles needed to strike.
In 2025-26, Sexton shot 44.5 percent on 2.5 catch-and-shoot three-point field goals per game and 51.7 percent on 9.5 drives per contest.
For perspective: Kennard and Smart combined to average fewer drives per game (8.6) than Sexton managed on his own. Additionally, Sexton averaged 1.21 points per isolation possession and ranked in the 96th percentile in rim shot creation and the 74th percentile in rim shot making efficiency, per Basketball Index.
Sexton may not be the high-profile acquisition that Kessler is, or the four-year signing that Quentin Grimes or Sandro Mamukelashvili are, but he's a transformative addition to the Lakers' roster.
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