Lakers Officially Sign Collin Sexton: A Beginner-Friendly Breakdown

Published July 12, 2026, 4:12 p.m. ET

What Just Happened? (The Big News)

The Los Angeles Lakers (a professional basketball team) made another offseason move official. An offseason move is just something a team does when they are not playing games, like signing new players.

They announced they signed a player named Collin Sexton. He is a "guard" — a player who usually dribbles the ball and helps his team score.

Here is the simple timeline in numbered steps:

1. On July 1, 2026, the Lakers and Sexton agreed to a deal (a promise to join).
2. On Sunday, July 12, 2026, the team made it official (all paperwork finished).

The contract (the money agreement) is for two years and $19 million (that’s how much he will be paid).

Important: This news came just days after the Lakers also announced they traded for Walker Kessler (swapped players with another team) and signed two other new players: Quentin Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili.

Who Is Collin Sexton?

Imagine a player who has been in the big league (called the NBA) for eight years. Sexton started his journey when he was picked 8th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft (a yearly event where teams choose new players) by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Last year (the 2025‑26 season), he played for two different teams:

• The Charlotte Hornets
• The Chicago Bulls

Now he is joining the Lakers.

Sexton’s Numbers Made Simple

Basketball has simple counting stats. Here is what he did:

Last Season (with Hornets and Bulls):

• 15.4 points per game (points are like goals in basketball)
• 3.3 assists (passes that lead directly to a teammate scoring)
• 2.3 rebounds (grabbing the ball after a missed shot)
• 1.1 steals (taking the ball away from the other team)

Over His Whole Career (8 seasons):

• 18.3 points per game
• 3.6 assists per game
• 2.7 rebounds per game

He is a career 47% shooter, meaning almost half the time he throws the ball at the hoop, it goes in. That’s pretty good!

What He Brings to the Lakers

The Lakers are planning to use Sexton as the lead guard off the bench. The "bench" is the group of players who don’t start the game but come in later — like substitute players.

Why is he helpful?

• He is athletic (fast and bouncy).
• He scores efficiently, especially near the "rim" (the orange hoop).
• The Lakers have been missing these skills the last few years.

But we should be fair:

• He is not a great defender (doesn’t stop opponents well).
• He is not a top playmaker (doesn’t set up teammates as much).

Important: Sexton once played with Walker Kessler (the player the Lakers just traded for) for three years in Utah. That friendship might be why the Lakers boss, Rob Pelinka, wanted him. This is all happening as the Lakers start the post‑LeBron James era — meaning the famous player LeBron James has left the team (he is now a free agent, free to join another team).

Sexton’s Fun Announcement

On July 1, right after agreeing to join, Sexton posted a hype video (an exciting clip) on social media. It used the song “No Child Left Behind” by Kanye West. His caption was just two words: “It’s ON.”

This shows he is ready and excited to play for the Lakers!

Summary

Let’s recap the key points:

• The Lakers officially signed Collin Sexton on July 12, 2026.
• He agreed on July 1 to a 2‑year, $19 million deal.
• He is an experienced guard who scores well (career 47% shooter).
• He joins a reshaped Lakers team after LeBron James left.
• He previously played with new Laker Walker Kessler for three years.
• Fans can expect energy and scoring from the bench.

FAQ

1. What is a free agent?
A free agent is a player whose old contract has ended, so they can choose to sign (join) any team that wants them.

2. Why is the “post‑LeBron era” a big deal?
LeBron James is one of the most famous basketball players ever. His leaving means the Lakers are building a new team without him, which is a huge change for fans.

3. What does “off the bench” mean?
It means Sexton will likely not be in the starting five players who begin the game, but will come in later to help the team, like a substitute.

4. How good is a 47% shooting percentage?
In basketball, making almost half of your shots is considered efficient and helpful for a team, especially near the hoop.

5. What other players did the Lakers add recently?
Along with Sexton, they traded for Walker Kessler and signed Quentin Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili.