Collin Sexton assesses the 2023-2024 season as a positive one for himself, a sentiment with which we partially concur. Compared to his debut season with the Utah Jazz, this year showcased notable improvements across various facets of his game. Sexton demonstrated heightened shooting accuracy, scoring output, and efficiency, while also displaying advancements in passing and three-point shooting skills, areas where he previously struggled during his tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“”I feel like I would evaluate [the season] as a pretty good one. First, I would say staying healthy. That would be the number one evaluation. Then, number two is just getting better as the season progressed in all categories. I feel like the start of the season, I started to figure it out. Figuring out how Will [Hardy] wanted me to play, and started to figure out what this team needed from me. Then, over the season, and how the games just stacked up, I just continued to get better, and continued to get better every single night.””
During his end-of-season press conference, Sexton candidly discussed his progress and adaptation to Will Hardy’s coaching scheme. However, despite Sexton’s individual improvements, the Utah Jazz experienced a significant downturn towards the season’s end, squandering a viable opportunity to secure a playoff berth. This collapse, seemingly driven by the team’s strategic focus on retaining a draft pick, raises doubts about the overall success of the season, particularly in light of the potential consequences if the pick does not land within the top ten.
While acknowledging Sexton’s personal growth, it’s challenging to categorize the season as “good,” considering the team’s underperformance and the stakes involved. Although Sexton’s offensive prowess notably improved, his defensive capabilities noticeably lagged, posing challenges for the team’s overall effectiveness, especially on defense. While we maintain a positive outlook for Sexton’s future contributions to the Jazz, we remain cautious about endorsing his characterization of the season as successful, given the broader context of the team’s performance and objectives.