Collin is the son of Darnell and Gia Sexton. He has an older brother, Jordan, and one older sister, Giuana. He started playing basketball when he was three years old.[4]
Sexton was rated as a five-star recruit and considered one of the best players in the 2017 recruiting class by Scout.com, Rivals.com and ESPN.[6][7] Sexton was ranked as the No.7 overall recruit and No.2 point guard in the 2017 high school class.[8] On November 10, 2016, Sexton committed to the Alabama Crimson Tide, on the same day he signed his letter of intent (LOI).[9]
Collin Sexton attended the University of Alabama, playing for coach Avery Johnson. On November 25, 2017, he scored 40 points while playing shorthanded (3-on-5) during most of the second half in a loss to the University of Minnesota.[10][11] In the opening game of the SEC tournament, Collin Sexton scored 27 points against Texas A&M including the game winning buzzer-beater, then 31 points in a quarterfinal win over #1 seed Auburn, and 21 points against Kentucky in a loss during the semifinals. Collin Sexton was named to the All-tournament team after averaging 26.3 ppg, 3 apg, and 5 rpg in 3 games.
Following Alabama's loss in the 2018 NCAA men's basketball tournament, Sexton announced his intention to forgo his final three seasons of collegiate eligibility and declare for the 2018 NBA draft, where he was expected to be a first round selection.[12]
Before Alabama's exhibition game on November 6, 2017, the school announced that Sexton would not play due to eligibility concerns. These concerns stem from Alabama director of basketball operations Kobie Baker's resignation following an internal investigation after the announcement of an FBI investigation into college basketball corruption.[13] Sexton would, however, make his debut with Alabama on November 14 in a win against Lipscomb University. Later on in February 2018, Sexton's name would pop up as one of the names implicated with the NCAA scandal of receiving payments or dinners. His name was once again cleared.
Professional career
Cleveland Cavaliers (2018–2022)
On June 21, 2018, Sexton was selected with the eighth overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2018 NBA draft. The Cavaliers had acquired the Nets’ pick from the Celtics via the Kyrie Irving trade the previous summer, who had acquired it initially in 2014 as part of the blockbuster trade of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, among others.[A]. He was the highest-selected player from Alabama since Antonio McDyess in 1995. On July 6, 2018, Sexton made his NBA Summer League debut. He recorded 15 points to go along with 7 rebounds.[17] On October 17, 2018, Sexton made his NBA debut, coming off the bench for the Cleveland Cavaliers with nine points and three rebounds in a 104–116 loss to the Toronto Raptors.[18] On November 24, 2018, Sexton scored a season-high 29 points against the Houston Rockets in a 117–108 victory. On December 9, 2018, he again scored 29 points against the Washington Wizards in a 116–101 victory.[19] On March 8, 2019, Sexton passed Kyrie Irving for 3 pointers made as a Cavs rookie with 76 against the Miami Heat. He also eclipsed 1,000 career points. On March 11, 2019, Sexton had 28 points against the Toronto Raptors in a 126–101 victory, to go along with 5 assists and 4 rebounds. In the week of March 8, 2019, Sexton had the best week of his rookie campaign, averaging 26.0 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.5 rebounds. During a stretch from March 8 to 22, he became the first rookie to score 23+ points in seven consecutive games since Tim Duncan in 1998, as well the only rookie in franchise history to successively score at least 23 points. Additionally, he is the only rookie in NBA history to have played at least 2,000 minutes while scoring over 16 points per game on over 40% 3-point accuracy and fewer than 3 turnovers. He was named to the Rising Stars Game at the 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend as a replacement for injured Miami Heat rookie Tyler Herro,[20] where he put up 21 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists[21] for Team USA.
On March 4, 2020, Sexton scored a season-high 41 points, alongside three rebounds and six assists, in a 106–112 loss to the Boston Celtics.[22] He led the Cavaliers in points per game (20.8) during the 2019–20 season, and also joined LeBron James and Kyrie Irving as the only Cavaliers to average at least 20 points per game before turning 22 years old.[23][24] Sexton scored at least 25 points in seven of his last eight games of the season, the longest such streak since James did so during his stint in Cleveland.[25]
Sexton in 2018
On January 20, 2021, Sexton set a new career high of 42 points in a 147–135 double overtime win against the Brooklyn Nets.[26] During the 2020–21 campaign, Sexton led the Cavaliers in scoring for a second straight year with a career-high 24.3 points per game, and also set a career high with 4.4 assists per game.[27][28]
Sexton and the Cavaliers failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension before the 2021–22 season started.[29] On October 22, 2021, he scored a season-high 33 points, alongside four rebounds and two steals, in a 112–123 loss to the Charlotte Hornets.[30] On November 7, Sexton exited a road game against the New York Knicks with a knee injury, which was later revealed to be a torn left meniscus. There was no timetable set for his return.[31] On November 20, it was revealed that he had season-ending surgery.[32] On June 28, 2022, the Cavaliers extended a qualifying offer to Sexton, making him a restricted free agent.[33]
Utah Jazz (2022–present)
On September 3, 2022, Sexton was signed-and-traded, alongside Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, three future first-round picks, and two future pick swaps, to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Donovan Mitchell. As part of the deal, Sexton agreed to a four-year, $72 million contract with the Jazz.[34][35] Sexton made his debut for the Jazz on October 19, recording 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists while coming off the bench in a 123–102 win over the Denver Nuggets.[36]
Sexton was born in Marietta, Georgia, and grew up in Mableton, Georgia with his mother and father, Gia and Darnell Sexton, and his brother, Jordan Sexton.[37]
Cleveland acquired Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Žižić, the Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first-round pick, and the Miami Heat's 2020 second-round pick (latter pick added as compensation for Thomas' failed physical)
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