Jazz PG Collin Sexton Predicts Whether He'll Play Again This Season
The Utah Jazz's 144-116 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night was the 13th straight game that Collin Sexton has missed. Hampered by a nagging hamstring injury, he hasn't suited up for the Jazz since February 15, pre-dating the All-Star break.
Although he was well enough to participate in some of the All-Star weekend's events, Sexton hasn't been available to the Jazz in a month and a half. With just nine regular-season games left between now and April 9, Utah currently finds itself on the outside looking in on the playoffs.
Still, Sexton sent a message to Jazz Nation on Friday night before the Bucks game that he will be back in the lineup sometime this season.
“Absolutely,” Sexton said via the Salt Lake Tribune's Eric Walden. “I’ve just pretty much been ramping up and just trying to get back out there. It’s tough just sitting there on the bench and watching. It’s very tough. But I know that I can help my team [for now] just by being encouraging and being the best cheerleader I can on the bench, and just trying to continue to coach while I’m on the sideline.”
Indeed, Sexton has been vocal and energetic in support of his teammates on the sideline. That has had to serve as a rather hollow facsimile of the impact he could make on the court.
“It’s really tough, just because we haven’t been able to get any live up-and-down as much. … Because we have so many games, we don’t have any time to really practice and to play 5-on-5,” Sexton said via Walden. “So we’ve just been trying to do other things in the weight room and on the court to continue to simulate game reps. It’s very tough, but I feel like we’re doing we’re moving in the right direction.”
Of Utah's 73 games played thus far, Sexton has missed 26 of them. Alas, although it was hoped his injury-prone label would be dispelled in Utah, it has persisted.
In his 47 appearances this season (14 starts), Sexton has averaged 24 minutes per game, 14.3 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game. The silver lining is that he's sinking a career-high 50.7% of his field-goal attempts.
Fans can only hope that Sexton is as good as his word and suits up between now and April 9. Next up, the Jazz are on the road to face the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night.
Don't expect Saturday to be the Sexton's triumphant return to the court.
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