A Preview of Collin Sexton's Third Year in Utah

Diving deeper into Collin Sexton's shot-making, his fit with Keyonte George, and his ability to create transition offense.

Collin Sexton is heading into his third season with the Utah Jazz and his seventh season in the NBA. He’s come a long way from the guy who played a 3-on-5 game against Minnesota as a freshman at Alabama. His first season in Utah was a rollercoaster of ups and downs. Injuries, playing behind Mike Conley, and learning a new system led to a relatively quiet year, where he averaged just 14.3 points and 2.9 assists per game. However, just one year later, he solidified his spot as Utah’s starting shooting guard, playing in 78 games, starting 51, and averaging 18.7 points, 4.9 assists, and shooting 39.4% from three-point range. His leap from year one to year two in Utah has been one of the most under-discussed storylines in the NBA, as Collin has established himself as a talented and efficient scoring guard at just 25 years old.

Sexton’s third year in Utah will be crucial for several reasons. As with everyone on this team not named Lauri Markkanen, the Jazz front office is likely still determining Collin’s place in their long-term plans. With that in mind, there are a few key areas to watch this year: his pull-up jump shooting, his ability to play alongside Keyonte George, and his role as a transition creator. These will all help the Jazz evaluate Sexton’s future with the team.

Pullup Jump Shooting

During the 2024-2025 Utah Jazz Media Day, Sexton was asked about his offseason focus, and he mentioned working on his dribbling and shooting off the dribble — essentially, improving his pull-up jump shot. Listed at 6’3” (though he might appear closer to 6’1”), it’s crucial for a player of his size to create shots off the dribble. In the 2023-2024 NBA season, Sexton attempted 170 pull-up jumpers, shooting 38.2% overall but only 28.2% from three. This was a sharp contrast to his other jumpers, where he shot 41.0% from the field and 42.1% from three.

However, in the 2024-2025 preseason, it’s become clear that Sexton is gearing up for a leap in his pull-up shooting. Through five preseason games, his most frequent shot type has been the pull-up jumper, with 16 attempts. He has made 43.8% of those attempts overall and 30.0% from three. While it’s a small sample size, it signals notable improvement.

Let’s break down some film. In one clip, Sexton is guarded by the much larger Jabari Smith Jr. After Smith dislodges Sexton’s dribble, Sexton scrambles to regain control and uses this as an opportunity to create space. Using a wide-based attacking stance, Sexton appears to be driving, but with a left-handed in-and-out dribble, he brings the ball into his shooting pocket. Despite being 7 inches shorter than his defender, Sexton overcomes the height disparity with elevation and a high release point.

In another example, Sexton capitalizes on a transition opportunity. After Jaden Hardy falls, Sexton pulls up smoothly for a mid-range jumper that’s reminiscent of Chris Paul.

In three additional clips, Sexton exploits space in the paint. Facing Sochan, who is unsure how closely to guard him, Sexton takes advantage of the hesitation and pulls up for the shot. Whenever Sochan had to guard Sexton in the Utah Jazz’s preseason game against the Spurs, Sexton repeatedly hunted the pull-up jumper. Sochan faced a tough decision — overextend and risk getting beat off the dribble, or give Sexton space and allow the jumper. Without Victor Wembanyama to clean up in the paint, this matchup heavily favored Sexton.

This blend of impressive jump shooting and explosive rim-attacking makes Sexton difficult to guard, especially for bigger defenders. The key question this season will be whether he can maintain consistency in this part of his game.

Playing with Keyonte George

Last season, the Jazz had plenty of options for their starting guards, including Keyonte George, Sexton, Jordan Clarkson, Ochai Agbaji, Kris Dunn, and Talen Horton-Tucker. As the season progressed and roles became more defined, George and Sexton emerged as the starting duo. They played 727 minutes together, posting a -10.2 net rating, a 112.0 offensive rating, and a 122.3 defensive rating. While the offense was passable, the defense struggled — not surprising for a rookie and a 6’3” guard without a strong defensive reputation.

Still, having two undersized guards can work with the right defensive personnel. That personnel likely includes Taylor Hendricks, Cody Williams, Lauri Markkanen, and most importantly, Walker Kessler. As noted in a previous article, this is a lineup Hardy has used frequently. While it may still be below average defensively, the offense should see improvement.

In the 2024-2025 preseason, George and Sexton hadn’t quite found their rhythm early on, with Sexton struggling in the first few games and George getting injured in the third. However, they started to show promise in the fifth game against the Sacramento Kings, with both guards scoring in double-figures and combining for 11 assists.

One way George and Sexton have coexisted is through the Jazz’s "stampede action" — a play where George passes to Sexton, who immediately attacks downhill. This was a go-to action for both players last season, allowing them to get into the paint quickly.

However, there have been moments of miscommunication. For example, in a late-game situation against the Kings, George made a poor pass to Sexton, leading to a turnover and a basket for the opposing team. While Sexton had the right idea to provide a relief pass, perhaps setting a screen would have been a better choice. These small details will be worth watching throughout the season as fans and the Jazz front office assess the fit between George and Sexton.

Collin Sexton’s Ability to Create Offense in Transition

Last year, the Jazz played at the 10th fastest pace in the NBA, meaning they generated more possessions than 20 other teams, some through transition play. Sexton’s speed and motor make him the engine of Utah’s transition offense. While George favors ball screens and a slower style, Sexton thrives in the open court, making quick plays.

Sexton can certainly create for himself in transition, but he also excels at finding open teammates in advantage situations as seen in a clip against the Spurs.

In one play against the Mavericks, both defenders focus on him, allowing Markkanen to cut for an alley-oop. This kind of recognition makes Sexton such an effective transition player.

In a one-on-one transition against De’Aaron Fox, Sexton gets the steal and finishes over Fox, using his speed and floor awareness to his advantage.

While Sexton often makes well-timed decisions in transition, sometimes he simply needs to go full throttle, as he does in a play against the New Zealand Breakers, finishing through contact.

With the young talent on the Jazz, there will be times when the half-court offense stalls. Sexton is the perfect player to provide an energy injection when that happens. His ability to create in transition sets him apart from his peers on the team.

Conclusion

Sexton’s third year with the Jazz may be his most significant yet. At 25 years old, he still has room to grow and could potentially become a 20-points-per-game scorer. Whether he achieves that will depend on his pull-up shooting, his chemistry with George, and his ability to create offense in transition.