2018 NBA Mock Draft: Knicks go big with Mo Bamba

I think we underestimate just how difficult Sexton’s job was in Alabama this season, as well as his ability to be the cornerstone of a rebuild for a franchise like Charlotte.

Watching the early season broadcast of Alabama-Arizona, I got to hear many of the initial impressions the commentators had on the Crimson Tide’s young team. They made Donta Hall sound like a defensive stud in the making, yet with Hall in the middle, Alabama’s defense was barely in the top third of the country. Dazon Ingram was made out to be the lead ball-handler that could make life easier for Sexton, yet in the end the tape shows he was more of a limiting factor for Sexton’s growth than a catalyst for his improvement.

Amidst all this, Sexton put together a season in which he was one of the more important players in college basketball based on the talent and situation around him. He finished over half Alabama’s possessions with either a made basket, drawn foul, assist or turnover, while putting together a true shooting percentage close to .600. Unfortunately, 2-point shots (many highly difficult and in pressure situation) didn’t always go down for the freshman, which limited his impact.

Sexton still managed to lead his team to some late-season wins and an 8-seed in the NCAA tournament. Even mediocre floor spacing and defensive talent at the NBA level would allow him to play his best game. Charlotte is in no hurry to blow their team up, so it’s realistic that Sexton could be playing next to guys like Dwight Howard and Nic Batum next year.