{
  "id": 10610258,
  "title": "Collin Sexton says he's focused on helping the Lakers on defense",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/collin-sexton-says-hes-focused-on-helping-the-lakers-on-defense",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-29T04:43:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/collin-sexton-says-hes-focused-044311667.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Collin Sexton, the new guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, insists he is focused on improving his defensive game. Despite being criticized as a poor defender in the past, Sexton puts in a lot of effort and energy on the defensive end. At the Lakers' annual Media Day, Sexton was asked by Spectrum SportsNet about what he hopes to contribute to the team. He emphasized his desire to become a more aggressive defender, disrupting opposing offenses by making it difficult for them to establish rhythm and gain possession of the ball. Since the game starts with 24 seconds, Sexton aims to create chaos and slow down the first pass, aiming for a faster pace. Coaches have been supportive of Sexton's determination to enhance his defensive skills, and coach JJ Redick plans to integrate a more aggressive defensive strategy this season, especially with the addition of shot-blocker Walker Kessler. At just 27 years old, Sexton is a potent offensive player, averaging 15.4 points and 3.3 assists per game last season. He can play a substantial role as a sixth man, particularly since the Lakers struggled offensively from the bench last season and lacked a player who could immediately impact the game or create extra scoring opportunities.",
  "summary": "New Lakers guard Collin Sexton has a reputation for being a poor defender, but he sounds focused on changing that.",
  "key_points": [
    "Collin Sexton focused on improving defensive game for Lakers.",
    "Emphasizes becoming more aggressive defender to disrupt offenses.",
    "Coach JJ Redick plans aggressive defensive strategy with Kessler."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}