The Cleveland Cavaliers have selected former Alabama Crimson Tide stand-out Collin Sexton with the No. 8 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. It’s a fine pick, as he’s an extremely gifted point guard.
After meeting with commissioner Adam Silver on-stage, Sexton sat down for a quick interview with ESPN. He was asked to make a pitch to LeBron James, who may or may not be with the Cavs next season (we should know for sure by the end of June). The 19-year-old ball handler seemed excited at the notion of playing alongside the King.
“Make your pitch to LeBron James to stay in Cleveland with you,” ESPN’s Maria Taylor said to Sexton.
“Let’s do it, LeBron,” Sexton replied. “Let’s get back to the Finals.”
Sexton is a talented young guard, to be sure. In 33 appearances with the Crimson Tide last season, the former SEC Freshman of the Year turned in averages of 19.2 points on 44.7 percent shooting from the field (33.6 percent from beyond the arc), 3.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 29.9 minutes per.
The Cavs’ public interest in Sexton dates back to January, when several of the team’s staff members and owner Dan Gilbert scouted him in person in a highly anticipated matchup against fellow draft prospect Trae Young. One day after Cleveland’s season-ending loss to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, the Cavs worked Sexton out at the team facility at Cleveland Clinic Courts.
Whether or not James, who has a player option on his contract, will remain with the Cavs remains to be seen, but it sounds like Sexton would like that scenario.
