Collin Sexton rarely sat down on the bench during Cleveland Cavaliers games.
The 23-year-old point guard would instead stand in the corner on the baseline next to the Cavs bench, pointing to different spots on the floor to help teammates out, eagerly clapping and cheering them on throughout each contest. As the season progressed and Sexton improved from surgery to repair a torn meniscus suffered in November, he joined the Cavaliers on road trips, getting in modified workouts before games. He’d offer advice to teammates as he watched the season unfold.
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Sexton felt it was important to make his presence known and show support for his teammates.
“At the end of the day, I enjoyed myself, whether at shootaround or in the games,” Sexton said during his exit interview over Zoom at Cleveland Clinic Courts on Saturday. “As much as I can do on the sideline, as much as I can scream and yell, I’m going to do whatever is needed for my team. Whatever is needed on this end, I was screaming, ‘Left, right, pick-and-roll, weak, strong,’ so they could hear me.
“(I) know it was loud in there, so sometimes you can’t hear. One extra voice is not going to hurt.”
This season hasn’t been easy for Sexton. After his fourth season was cut short due to injury, Sexton did much of his initial recovery and rehab in Atlanta, where he is originally from. He watched copious amounts of basketball while at home recovering. He used that time to study the game, observing how coaches made specific adjustments in different situations.
Sexton also read, wrote every day in his journal and focused on building his mental strength.
“My mental has probably been the best it’s been in a long time,” Sexton said. “Everything I’ve been doing and all the people I’ve come in contact with, I’ve been able to feed off their energy and bring it to me. I’m excited because I’m in a really good place, and I know I will be back where I was before.”
The Cavs have made an effort to keep Sexton involved with the group as much as they can. He also felt like it was crucial to stay around the team as much as he could since he could not be out on the floor playing. It allowed him to stay connected and build on his relationships with his teammates.
Sexton would rebound or pass to guys when they were out on the floor. He was a part of shootarounds, watching them on Zoom, and he took part in the meetings. Then, down the stretch of the season, Sexton was at some shootarounds in person.
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Now back on his feet following surgery, Sexton has used this time to work on his 3s and the intricate details of his game. He’s back to spending late nights and early mornings in the gym, working his way back into a routine and putting up a number of shots and running. Before the Cavs faced the Atlanta Hawks in their second Play-In game Friday, Sexton was on the court pregame going through a workout with the coaching staff.
While Sexton doesn’t have an exact timeline yet of when he will be a full go, he believes he will be ready for training camp.
“I’m getting there,” Sexton said. “Every day is a grind. I feel better every day. As long as I get better 1 percent each and every day I wake up, then it’s a win-win. I just continue to just know that some days are gonna be better than others and just continue to know that I will be full go, and I know I’ll be 100 percent. So, that’s one thing that I can really look forward to and say that I have confidence in myself, and I have confidence in the people that’s working with me to get me back to where I was, (being) even much better and jumping a lot higher.”
With the Cavs’ 2021-22 season coming to an end Friday night, players had exit meetings with head coach J.B. Bickerstaff on Saturday morning. The message Bickerstaff delivered to Sexton was simple.
“Just pretty much get better, continue to get into a rhythm (where) I have no restraints,” Sexton said of Bickerstaff’s message. “Also, he appreciated how I was around the guys here. When I was able to be here, I was here; when it was time to be around the guys, I wanted to be here. If I could’ve been here the whole time, I would have. He really appreciated me being able to bring my smile. At the end of the day, I’m going to come in with a smile and work hard. That’s every day of the week. (I) feel like guys can see that, and it rubbed off on guys, as well.”
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After experiencing a season of uncertainty following his injury and heading into a critical offseason, Sexton believes he is in a good place to manage what lies ahead. He hopes he’ll have the opportunity to help the Cavs reach the playoffs next season.
“It’s been the toughest year I faced in my basketball career, but I know I have a good support staff,” he said. “I got good coaches here and good trainers. I know everybody here is going to help me get through it and help me get to where I need to be.
“At the end of the day, I’m just going to go out there and play. Let my game speak for itself, and I’m going to go out here and do what I do and continue to get better. The rest is going to be the rest. You’re going to see results.”
This offseason is an important one for both Sexton and the Cavs. There’s a decision that has to be made after the two sides did not come to a contract extension agreement before the start of the 2021-22 season. Sexton will be a restricted free agent this summer, but Cleveland can match any offer sheet that comes in from another team. The Cavs also have important decisions to make with their backcourt. Caris LeVert is up for a contract extension (he has one more year left on his deal), and Darius Garland is eligible to receive a rookie contract extension this summer.
A decision on Sexton is looming. But for now, he has stated his desire on where he hopes to suit up next season.
“I want to be here in Cleveland,” Sexton said. “I love the organization, love my teammates and whatever happens, I know that Cleveland was really good to me. I know this is the place that helped me get to where I am today, and I know I want to continue to be a part of this winning culture and be a part of this culture. I feel like me just being able to be at the start of it helped us get to where we are yesterday and where we are right now at the present. So, I love Cleveland. I want to be here.”
(Photo of Collin Sexton: Chris Marion / NBAE via Getty Images)