The Los Angeles Lakers need Collin Sexton to fill the second-unit point guard role to save Bronny James. Sexton has missed the first three preseason games with an undisclosed injury, bumping Bronny into a bigger role. James drew the start against the Warriors with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves also out, which quickly turned into a disaster. The Lakers need Sexton to save Bronny from filling a role the 22-year-old isn’t ready for.
Sexton is known more as a score-first option. Fans know Rob Pelinka loves that type of player, but they need the 6’3 guard to facilitate more. The Lakers will likely stagger Doncic and Reaves during the regular season to help fill their playmaking void. They will still need Sexton to distribute.
Bronny has 13 assists to eight turnovers in the preseason and has shot just four of 13 from the field. He needs less offensive responsibility. James spaced the floor well last season in the NBA and G League. The Lakers should lean into that and move Bronny off-ball full-time. Sexton can be the backup point guard and fill the remaining lead creator minutes when the team is healthy.
Collin Sexton should keep the Lakers offense rolling
Sexton is a bucket. He is a career 38.9 percent 3-point shooter, who averaged 17.5 points per game during his three seasons in Utah. The 27-year-old’s scoring dipped with the Hornets, but was right back to 17.5 a night after being traded to the Bulls. In 2025, Utah was 5.0 points per 100 possessions better with Sexton on the floor, and 3.3 of those were offensively.
There is new motivation for the 6’3 guard. Sexton has missed the playoffs in each of his first eight NBA seasons. He wants to end that drought.
Role players have to be fully bought into what their teams need to win in this league. The Lakers need more shot creation from Sexton and less scoring. Expect him to answer that call and save Bronny from taking on this role.
Bronny James isn’t an NBA point guard at this stage
James keeps improving. He barely got on the floor as a rookie, but that was no shock for the 55th overall pick. Bronny made significant improvements in year two, including his 3-point shooting jumping to above league average. The 22-year-old showed enough to convince the Lakers to keep him after LeBron James left to join the 76ers.
Bronny isn’t a point guard. Coach Redick’s timeout 52 seconds into James’ preseason start told fans all they needed to know. Bronny believes that is his role, but he is an undersized two-guard. They need him spacing the floor, knocking down open looks, and keeping the blender going. The Lakers had more success when Quentin Grimes took over as the primary creator with Bronny as his number two.
The Sexton and James pairing is a bit too small, but Bronny should embrace sharing the floor with Doncic or Reaves. It allows him to be a secondary creator without handling all the offensive responsibilities.
Bronny isn’t a point guard. Even in high school and college, that was never really his role. James is a basketball player, but he needs to be used in the right position to thrive. The Lakers can offer it until the guards miss time.
Lakers will have to use Bronny James at point guard if injuries strike
The Lakers are thin at the point guard position. Luka Doncic is a heliocentric superstar. He will be the lead creator whenever he’s on the floor. LA’s only options behind him are Sexton and Bronny. Austin Reaves can be the lead playmaker, but he is a shooting guard. The Lakers would ideally always have a creator on the floor next to AR.
Sexton will take 13 to 15 minutes each night behind Luka at point guard until someone misses time. Even Sexton going out forces the Lakers into Bronny getting minutes as the point guard. Fans have seen that it is unavoidable this preseason. Doncic or Reaves sitting makes this problem even worse.
LA is wisely giving James preseason point guard reps because they know he will be called upon at some point this season. It is not his best position, but Luka and AR are not playing all 82. Sexton is already dealing with an injury. Bronny will get run at point guard, but at least Sexton can save James from being the every-night option at a less-than-ideal position.
The Los Angeles Lakers need Collin Sexton to return to the lineup to save Bronny James from playing point guard. The 22-year-old isn’t ready for that role. Bronny may grow into it if he keeps improving. Lakers fans are rooting for it, but will have to settle for Sexton as the backup point guard for now.
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