CLEVELAND -- Since being drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers last summer, Collin Sexton made it clear he isn't trying to fill anyone's shoes -- let alone, Kyrie Irving's.
“I’m not following in [anybody's] footsteps," Sexton insisted at Cavs media day on Monday. "I’m going to come in and play my game.”
But from the outside looking in, the Cavs rookie point guard doesn't just appear to be OK with the Irving comparisons -- he seems to be leaning into them.
On the same night Cleveland selected him with the No. 8 pick, Sexton revealed he'd be wearing the No. 2 Cavs jersey Irving occupied prior to being traded to the Boston Celtics the summer prior. And on multiple occasions during his Summer League debut, the Alabama product could be spotted donning Irving's signature Nike shoe, practically following in the 5-time All-Star's footsteps, literally.
On the court, there have also been similarities between the Cavs' former point guard and current one -- although no one would mistake Sexton for the dynamic scorer Irving is at the point in his career.
But much like Irving did throughout his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2012, Sexton has already shown a penchant for wanting the ball in his hands when the game matters most.
"I see that similarity," Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue responded to an inquiry on Tuesday. "He's not afraid of the moment -- and Kyrie was the same way. He's not afraid of the big moment."
Such moments could be found in this past Summer League, where Sexton helped lead the Cavs to the semifinals of the Las Vegas tournament. With Cleveland trailing the Los Angeles Lakers by three points with a chance to play for the championship on the line, the 19-year-old nicknamed "Young Bull" drained a 3-pointer to even the contest at 98.
Despite Sexton's Summer League-high of 27 points, the Cavs went on to lose to the Lakers in double-overtime. But his Summer League showing only served as cause for optimism in Cleveland, as the reigning SEC Freshman of the Year averaged 19.6 points on 43 percent shooting, to go along with 3.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists in seven games.
"Summer League, he got better every game," Lue said of Sexton. "Each game, he got better and better and better. He understood the rules, understood how the game is going to be officiated. Understood where he could pick and choose his spots and score the basketball or make plays for others. So I thought Summer League was a big jump for him."
Now it's time for the next jump.
With the Cavs now in the midst of training camp, Sexton's NBA regular season debut is less than a month away. And while it remains to be seen whether or not he'll serve as Cleveland's starting point guard -- as Irving did as a rookie -- it's already clear he'll play a prominent role in the Cavs' rotation in the coming year.
But regardless of what his role at the start of the game, his role at the end of each close contest already appears clear.
It's what Cavs fans have come to expect from their point guard position.
