Collin Sexton will enter his seventh NBA season, which will also include his third with the Utah Jazz. It's fair to say that in his time in the NBA, he's lived up to his billing as the No. 8 pick in his draft, as he's proven himself as an efficient scorer and has even improved his flaws.
Sexton is a good player. More than that, he's always believed in himself. Look no further than what his answer when asked if he is among the best 10 point guards in the NBA on the August 16 episode of "Come And Talk 2 Me."
"If I’m putting myself in there, for sure. I put myself against anybody. At the end of the day, I don’t back down from nobody. I got a different type of chip on my shoulder. I got a different type of grind that when I step between those lines, it’s me against you.”
Sexton has every right to say what he wants. However, when you compare him to the likes of Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Haliburton, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey, Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Kyrie Irving, Trae Young, and De'Aaron Fox, among others, it's fair to say he's not in the same conversation as them.
To be fair, though it's not entirely his fault.
Is it the chicken or the egg for Collin Sexton?
The cold, hard fact about Sexton is that despite what he has proven, he has never been in the playoffs, nor has he ever made the All-Star team. However, on top of perpetually playing for a team right in the middle of a rebuild, Sexton also suffered a meniscus tear early on, which would be a setback for anyone who has had that kind of injury.
He has shown time and time again that he can win games if his team depends on him to do just that. The problem is, he doesn't get that opportunity all too often.
In other words, there's a fair argument that Sexton has not been fully unleashed. Perhaps on a team that is actively trying to win, Sexton's skillset could be more utilized and recognized at the same time. The question will be whether or not Sexton can do that while he's a member of the Jazz.
At present, no one knows if Sexton will truly factor into the Jazz's future, much like Walker Kessler. He's made it very clear how much he's loved being in Utah since coming over in 2022. But the Jazz have drafted some young talent that play the same position as him.
That doesn't mean a trade is coming, but regardless, Sexton deserves a shot to prove that he could ascend into the top-10 point guard conversation no matter who he plays for.