Collin Sexton on his 'wartime' mindset when he steps onto the court

Collin Sexton has already made his mark on the Los Angeles Lakers in just four games with them this season. He’s averaging 12 points in 17.8 minutes a game this season, but his impact has gone beyond his numbers.

He has been an igniter for them off the bench thanks to his ability to get buckets, handle the ball, create pace and get others involved. He has also sparked them defensively with his relentless pressure on the ball and his willingness to shadow opposing ball-handlers up and down the court. The guard has helped force turnovers, even when he hasn’t been credited with a steal.

Coach JJ Redick said after Sunday’s 132-123 win over the Utah Jazz that Sexton has a “level of insanity” to him that helps the team. Sexton explained after Wednesday’s 16-point victory over the Los Angeles Clippers that he takes on a special mindset when he is on the court.

“Honestly, I would say when I step into one of those lines, it’s us against them,” Sexton said. “I’m going to be doing whatever my team needs. For me, I feel like I turn into a different person when it’s time to go. And I think my teammates know that. So they try to talk to me a little bit, but they know I’m in the zone and ready to go to war. And that’s how I look at it. Whenever I step into those lines, it’s wartime.”

Off the court, Sexton seems like an easy-going man who radiates a positive attitude of gratitude. On the court, he is ultra-aggressive, and that type of on-court attitude can be very contagious. This season’s Lakers roster boasts several players who have a can-do spirit and seem willing to embrace their specific roles for the good of the team.

Against the Clippers, Sexton scored 21 points on 6-of-11 field-goal shooting and 4-of-7 from 3-point range in just 21 minutes, and he provided a profound jump-start for a Lakers team that was struggling offensively when its starting unit was on the floor.

It is looking like he is well worth the two-year, $19 million contract the organization signed him to in July, a decision that was criticized by plenty at the time.

This article originally appeared on Lakers Wire: Collin Sexton on his ‘wartime’ mindset when he steps onto the court