When the Cleveland Cavaliers selected Collin Sexton with the No. 8 pick in the NBA Draft last month, one of the first thing fans learned about the Cavs' new point guard is that his nickname is "Young Bull."
On Monday evening, he showed why.
Capping off a what was a stellar debut in the NBA's Summer League, Sexton scored 27 points in Cleveland's double-overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in the tournament's semifinals. But while the Alabama product showcased an impressive offensive game -- and knack for coming up in the clutch -- it was his defense that left social media buzzing on Monday night.
In particular, Sexton's demeanor during a pivotal late-game possession seemed to personify how he earned his nickname. With the clock winding down in the fourth quarter and the score tied at 98, the 19-year-old matched up with Lakers point guard Josh Hart, seemingly flexing his muscles and even talking to himself before forcing his opponent into a missed shot.
Although the Cavs were ultimately unable to prevail, Sexton's latest outing continued what was already an impressive string of performances in his first Summer League. In seven games, 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. His 27 points against the Lakers in the semifinals served as his Summer League high.
It obviously remains to be seen how Sexton's performance in the Summer League will translate to the regular season, where he'll face stiffer competition. But his first showing wearing wine and gold shouldn't be seen as anything but an encouraging sign as a new era of Cavs basketball gets set to begin.
