Collin Sexton Sounds Off on Jazz Acquiring John Collins via Trade

Collin Sexton is looking to get back on track in Year 2 with a little help from John Collins.

The future is looking bright for the Utah Jazz. As we approach the 2023-24 season, the Jazz are now one of the deepest backcourts in the league. 

Collin Sexton leads a position group of six capable guards looking to make an impact with a franchise that has their eyes on a playoff berth. Despite Sexton’s injury-plagued first season in Salt Lake City, the second-year Jazzman is pumped to put that behind him heading into Year 2. 

ESPN’s Kendra Andrews caught up with Sexton at halftime during Utah's 108-96 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night, where he dished on his offseason grind and Utah's acquisition of John Collins via trade.

“Oh yeah I’m very excited. I’m very excited,” Sexton told Andrews. “We’ve been working out pretty much every week. Every other week we’ve been grinding — getting to it. It’s going to be a great season. I’m excited bringing John—that’s my guy. So I’m definitely going to be throwing lobs, that’s for sure.”

Due to a relentless injury bug, Sexton has missed 105 games over the last two seasons. However, when Sexton was on the court he performed admirably in 2022-23, averaging 14.3 points and 2.9 assists last year in Utah. 

Sexton is a proven high-volume scorer who specializes in creating his own offense. In 2022-23, he did most of his work coming off the bench, but this year, Sexton will be competing for the starting point guard position with Kris Dunn, Talen Horton-Tucker, and Keyonte George, all of whom have a shot at being Utah’s starter at the one. 

Although Sexton’s specific role with Utah is unclear, the veteran appears to have a grip on the task on hand this offseason. Sexton elaborated in his end-of-season press conference.

“Just continue to grow, continue to watch a lot of film, and just continue to get better at things that I need to improve on, and come back next year ready to go, and be a really good playmaker, which I have shown and know I can do for this team,” Sexton said. “So just come back and be reading to go and have a big season, whether it’s individual, but also team, us making the playoffs.”

The fact that Sexton is even in the conversation of not starting speaks to the depth the Jazz have at the one and two spots. How Jazz head coach Will Hardy decides to distribute those minutes will be a big story as we inch closer to the regular season. 

Whether he starts or is a backup, Sexton knows the most important thing moving forward is availability and a clean bill of health.

“Just to continue to stay healthy,” Sexton said. “I’m 100% now. I feel way better than I did when I got injured. So I’m excited for next season and just come back better and show them I’m back.”

Sexton will be able to start making his case to be cemented in as the starter when training camp begins on September 27.

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