Collin Sexton’s readiness for Lakers opener in doubt after two-week leg injury absence

Los Angeles Lakers guard Collin Sexton has missed roughly two and a half weeks with a lower-leg injury, and there is no guarantee he will be ready for the start of the regular season, NBA reporter Jovan Buha said.

Sexton, projected as the Lakers’ sixth man, has missed all of the team’s preseason games. Head coach JJ Redick has described a lower-leg injury, and the team continues to list the 27-year-old as day-to-day.

Buha said Sexton did some shooting at the Lakers’ latest shootaround without a visible wrap or sleeve but was not healthy enough to play Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors in Las Vegas. “Right now, the Lakers are without Sexton. We have no assurances he’s gonna be ready to start the season,” Buha said on his Buha’s Block podcast.

Buha questioned the team’s continued day-to-day classification: “You can’t be day-to-day for almost two and a half weeks at that point. That’s week-to-week, or potentially out longer.” He added that an extended absence would leave the Lakers thin on playmaking if Quentin Grimes or Sandro Mamukelashvili also missed time, with little confidence in Bronny James or Jaden Hardy running the offense.

The Lakers acquired Sexton this offseason after he averaged 15.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists across 68 games for the Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls last season. Los Angeles opens the regular season October 21 against the Warriors.