With the Cleveland Cavaliers desperately trying to avoid another post-LeBron rebuild, rookie point guard Collin Sexton has some big shoes to fill.
Shortly after being named the No. 8 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Collin Sexton walked across the stage and shook commissioner Adam Silver’s hands before delivering his pitch to LeBron James.
“Man, LeBron, let’s do it,” Sexton said. “Let’s do it. I see you needed a few extra pieces this past season, and let’s do it. Let’s go back to the Finals.”
His pure enthusiasm wasn’t enough, however, as LeBron signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. The King may be gone, but his legacy in Cleveland Cavaliers was cemented even before he ended the city’s 52-year title drought in 2016.
What little backlash may have resulted from his departure is essentially gone after announcing the opening of his I Promise School for disadvantaged youth in Akron.
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It’ll be impossible for Sexton to match LeBron’s impact within the Cavs organization, much less the city of Cleveland. His career may not even live up to that of Kyrie Irving, who hit the go-ahead shot in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals.
As a rookie, no one is expecting that from Sexton right away, but his impressive Summer League showing in which he averaged 19.6 points per game has some Cavs hopefuls thinking playoffs. Here are five goals for Sexton, that if accomplished, will help Cleveland be in the postseason for the fifth consecutive season.