SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 21: Collin Sexton #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers arrives to the arena before the game against the Golden State Warriors on October 21, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images Jacob Rude Thu, October 22, 2026 at 6:26 AM UTC · 2 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In theory, Collin Sexton is a Laker.
Fans are still waiting for his debut after he was sidelined for the entirety of the preseason. Things seemed to be trending toward Sexton making his debut on Tuesday after he was a full participant in practice on Monday and Tuesday.
Initially, Sexton was listed as questionable for the contest with a calf strain. However, hours before Wednesday's game, the team downgraded him to out . Head coach JJ Redick spoke to the media pregame and shared more on why Sexton didn't play.
"No setback," Redick said. "Collaborative decision with [the] performance [staff]. Everyone [was] involved. I always say this with soft tissue injuries, the athlete has to have confidence and full confidence."
That last line seems to indicate that perhaps Sexton is not feeling fully healthy enough to return. Perhaps that means there's still a bit of soreness or perhaps that means he doesn't feel his conditioning or fitness is up to par after missing so much of the preseason.
However, that's all speculation. What we know is that, in the past, the Lakers have erred on the side of caution with injuries, particularly with calf strains. It's an injury that can lead to much worse setbacks, so it's not necessarily a surprise to see him held out.
Lakers fans are eager to see Sexton's debut, especially given the state of their backup guards and ballhandlers. But patience will be required before that finally happens.
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Source: Sports
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