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Who’s rapidly becoming the Hornets’ unquestioned leader? It’s the new guy

Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee is relishing the start of training camp, utilizing the extended practice time to fully implement his vision. Lee believes instilling these habits now will give the Hornets their best chance to compete consistently in the demanding NBA season. By DIAMOND VENCES

As the final touches are still being put on renovations at the arena that will soon be home, Collin Sexton takes a few minutes to reflect.

Practice just ended upstairs inside the Novant Health Training Center, which sits across the street from the multi-million facility being erected that’s going to serve as the Charlotte Hornets’ performance center in 2027.

Workers are buzzing around Spectrum Center with activity, and it’s a microcosm of the vision of co-owners Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin, and subsequently president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson. The Hornets are attempting to alter the narrative that’s hovered over the franchise for the better part of the past two decades and are fixated on doing it sooner than later.

“I would say I can sense that right away since getting here,” Sexton said Monday. “Even just the first conversation with Jeff and coach (Charles) Lee. Those are the first words that they said, ‘We’re trying to change the culture. We want to win. We want to give the fans something to be happy about and... come out here and be able to root for us.’

“So I think that was something that I’ve seen from Day One, and that was something I wanted as well. I want to win. I want to be a part of a winning organization. I want to impact winning as much as I can.”

He’s not interested in the other side of the spectrum. In any aspect.

“We’ve all seen the bottom, and we’re not trying to be back to that, you know what I mean?” Sexton said. “So, it’s only up from here. And at the end of the day, sometimes you don’t know who you are until you’re back against the wall. So, I feel like that’s everyone in the building. We already touched the bottom, and I feel like now it’s time to fight it out.”

Charlotte Hornets guard Collin Sexton (8) dribbles down the court during the second half of a game between the Charlotte Hornets and the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center. Alonzo Adams USA TODAY NETWORK

Acquired from Utah in June along with a 2030 second-round pick for Jusuf Nurkic, Sexton is one of Peterson’s top offseason additions and has quickly integrated himself. He brings a wealth of interchangeability as a playmaker and ball-handler, coming off posting 18.4 points and 4.2 assists in 63 outings in 2024-25.

He started in 61 games with the Jazz a season ago, but can also be a sparkplug off the bench if needed . He projects as a starter in Charlotte alongside star point guard LaMelo Ball, though Lee isn’t revealing his cards just yet.

Sexton’s first true taste of teaming with Ball in game action from the outset came in Saturday night’s preseason win over the Dallas Mavericks and Lee seemed encouraged by the early results leading into Wednesday night’s preseason matchup against Memphis at the Greensboro Coliseum.

“I think last game was a good depiction of Collin’s ability to play with a lot of different lineups,” Lee said. “He’s very versatile. The first two games, he’s coming off the bench and having to kind of help anchor I would say that that backup unit, and he did a really good job of it, being our primary ball-handler and getting us into different sets and helping us play fast.

“And then last game was a little bit different where maybe you’re not the primary ball-handler now, and you got to be able to space away as Melo and Brandon (Miller) and Miles (Bridges) are playing pick-and-roll. And I thought he adapted really well. He’s also another guy that can get a piece of the paint.”

Lee is pleased with Sexton’s reach. Just his style of attack offensively puts others in great positions to contribute, understanding they don’t have to worry about creating their own look at times because Sexton can do that for them.

“I think that he actually helps Brandon, Miles and Melo be able to improve their shot quality as well,” Lee said, “because that guy (is getting) downhill and putting two feet in the paint. And then you add the fact that he’s passing it and he’s a willing passer, it really helps him.

“And I think that we’ve seen the benefits of that for all those guys.”

Perhaps, the most notable aspect of Sexton since his arrival centers around an area the Hornets have lacked in recent years while boasting one of the NBA’s youngest rosters. He has zero qualms about speaking up and assuring everyone is cognizant of what’s at stake.

And Lee loves it, given it serves as an extension of him on the court.

“Yeah, he’s not afraid to just communicate,” Lee said. “I think, No. 1, everyone sees how hard he works every day, and so he’s already leading by example. And then so when he does want to speak up, because he’s so passionate and competitive, he’s earned their respect. So, he’s able to just be very vocal, very upfront with them. And they all know that it’s from a place of love, it’s from a place of competitive joy and that they’re really responsive.

“I think that our whole group, though, is learning how to communicate with one another in a positive way to kind of help us just keep moving in the right direction. So, I love what he’s done. He’s really helped bring a little bit more intensity to sometimes that starting unit. Especially on the defensive end where he sets a tone on the primary ball-handler and allows the other guys to kind of follow suit.”

Basically, to put it in even simpler terms, Sexton is merely doing what he always has and resemble that same guy he sees when he looks in the mirror.

“I would say since I got here, I always try not to say I’m trying to fit in — just got to continue to be me,” Sexton said. “I feel like that’s the biggest thing. Continue to be me and continue to walk with confidence. And confidence brings leadership. At the end of the day, leading by example is something that I’ve done since coming into the league and even in college and through high school.

“So I feel like that’s something that I felt like that was a need of the team, and I felt like that was a way I can come in and impact right away is bring leadership and bring those qualities, because at the end of day when things are going south and things aren’t going well, we got to have someone that can bring the guys back together. And I feel like that’s something that I can do.”

Sexton spoke with The Observer about a number of things, including jelling with Ball, if being in a contract year weighs on his mind, who he’s built a close relationship with so far and more.

Dallas Mavericks guard D'Angelo Russell (5) is defended by Charlotte Hornets guard Collin Sexton (8) in the first half of a game at American Airlines Center. Raymond Carlin III USA TODAY NETWORK

Roderick Boone: How is it going for you in terms of trying to make sure you’re in the same place of the guys out there trying to fit in with LaMelo while also trying to just come in here and be who you want to be?

Collin Sexton: I would say it’s different. It’s definitely different. Just trying to figure out my spots and figure out that it’s going to take its time. And that’s why we have preseason. And just being out there with LaMelo for the first time, it felt felt pretty good. Something’s always going to continue to get better as the days go on. So, I just feel like just continue to work together and continue to build that trust. It’s only up so far.

RB: After the preseason opener in Charleston, you mentioned the good but also pointed out the bad. How important is that, to be truthful with things?

CS: Living in your truth. And that’s something that I always tell myself: living the truth. I’m not having a good day, tell myself I’m not having a good day. If I’m not doing what I’m supposed to, get onto myself. And I feel like that’s something that we’re teaching each other and doing it together.

It’s like, ‘Yo, I need more from you. I need more from you. You need more from me.’ And I feel like living in that truth, and being truthful and not sugarcoating anything is going to allow us to be one of those good teams.

RB: We spoke about it before, but now that you’ve had a game starting in the same backcourt with LaMelo, what was that like and how can that, as you said, get better once you guys get more time together out there in the same backcourt?

CS: It was good. I would say it was really good. It was fun to be out there with Melo. You see how talented he is and how good he is. And I think that was something that I didn’t … I always watched his game. I always knew how good he was. But when you’re out there with him, you be like ‘Wow.’ You get those wow factors at times from some of the stuff that he does. But I think just time would continue to tell, and we’re building that relationship off the court.

We’re getting closer so that now in the game, it’s going to just be second nature. ‘I know you’re going to be in this spot whenever I’m driving to the basket. Hey listen, if he helps over, I’m going to knock it down for you just so that I can give you your space.’

At the end of day, I feel like it’s going to be fun. Each person has a job that they have to do and whether it’s I’ve got to make sure I’m spacing out so that you can drive or if I need to cut, I’ve got a cut. We all have to give up ourselves for the better of the team.

RB: What about the rapport you are building with LaMelo? How’s that going overall?

CS: It’s been good. I’ve been trying to understand certain things, and understand him as a person and not just a basketball player. I have to understand who he is as a person and things that he likes so that we can talk about other things more than basketball.

We build that friendship and build that relationship off the court. I feel like on the court he’s going to be able to trust me and I’ll be able to trust him as well. So, I think our relationship and our bond has been improving each and every day, each and every week.

And since I first got here, I knew he’s one of the key guys to this team pushing. He’s at the forefront and we need him at his best so that we can go far. So, I’m going to continue to push him each and every day in practice, whether it’s picking him up on defense, pushing him, fouling him, just to give him those game-like reps.

RB: What about his competitive nature? What have you noticed about that?

CS: I’ll say he has a different type of competitive juice. It doesn’t matter if we’re playing Uno, doesn’t matter if we’re playing dominoes. Whatever. He’s trying to win. And at the end of the day, it’s pretty cool to see.

Charlotte Hornets guard Collin Sexton (8) goes by Dallas Mavericks guard D’Angelo Russell (5) in the first half of a game at American Airlines Center. Raymond Carlin III USA TODAY NETWORK

RB: Who else have you bonded with besides LaMelo?

CS: I’ve been bonding with Brandon. I’ve been bonding Brandon with Miles, and then helping the younger guys. But I would say Brandon for sure. Him and Miles, just because those guys are leaders for this team. I told Brandon from Day One that I’m going to help him with whatever I told him I want to see him strive in this league. I want to see him take that, be able to push him each and every day.

If I see him (expletive), I’m going over to him, ‘This is what I need from you today.’ So, I think we’re building that relationship, that bond. And we’re Roll Tide guys. So, I know that’s something that I can control.

RB: You are in the last year of your contract, so how do you not think about that and put it aside?

CS: I would say controlling each and every day, coming out here and being grateful and being thankful to be able to lace my shoes up, be able to go out and play with this organization. At the end of the day, I’ve got to be where my feet are. I can’t look two weeks in advance, I can’t look two months in advance. I have to take it day-by-day. That’s it.

It’s not tough because I’m grounded by faith. I’m grounded by the Lord, and I know my family is behind me. And I feel like when I’m grounded by those two things, then there’s nothing impossible.

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