LOS ANGELES — Collin Sexton is finally set to debut in purple and gold.
After sitting out all five of the Lakers’ preseason games with a deep calf muscle strain in his right leg before returning to full practice ahead of the season opener, Sexton was removed from the league-mandated injury report.
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“I felt like it was definitely disappointing for sure,” Sexton said at shootaround Friday morning, referring to not playing in the Lakers’ season-opening victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday. “I think one thing I was able to do is just stay present, just continue to be a leader, and continue to use my voice as much as I can, and just continue to come in with the right attitude and the right approach.”
Sexton, who signed a two-year, $19.2 million contract with the Lakers (1-0) this summer, said he was “pretty close” to playing on Wednesday, but still needed extra reps before being cleared for Friday’s game. Speaking before the game, Lakers coach JJ Redick said Sexton carries an “intensity about him” that he hopes the rest of the roster will feed off of during the season.
Redick added that Sexton will be an extra ball handler for the team on offense and will be a creator for the team when he’s in the game. Sexton said he expected to be on a minutes restriction on Friday night.
“I’m super excited just to be back and be back in that action of working hard with the guys,” Sexton said.
RUI RETURNS
During pregame warmups on Friday, Luka Doncic ran full force onto the court, making a beeline for a Clippers player shooting on the wing.
Doncic grappled a familiar face, a reunion on the court: Rui Hachimura.
Hachimura, who played for the Lakers for the past 3½ seasons and started half of their regular-season games during the 2025-26 season, made his return to Crypto.com Arena as a member of the Clippers.
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“(He was) one of my favorite players I’ve ever been around in the NBA, and one of my favorite players I’ve ever coached,” Redick said earlier this week of Hachimura. “And it’s because of just the consistency of joy and personality that he brings every day.”
Lakers guard Austin Reaves reiterated his coach’s remarks.
“He’s an unbelievable human,” Reaves said. “I didn’t know if he spoke English for the first two weeks. I’d sit by him on the plane and he didn’t speak to me. After that, I couldn’t get him to shut up. Great guy, great player and I miss him.”
LaRAVIA RULED OUT
Lakers forward Jake LaRavia, who appeared in all 82 regular-season games last season, was ruled out midday on Friday after he suffered a right ankle sprain during the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s game. LaRavia began the day as questionable.
Since LaRavia signed a two-year deal with the Lakers in summer 2025, Friday marked the first time he missed a game due to illness or injury.
“We talked last week and mentioned that (playing all 82 games) was one of his goals for the season,” Redick said. “He had the same goal last year and he was able to do that. Played through some stuff at times last year. (He) wanted to play.”
Redick said LaRavia’s ankle “was just not there” following shootaround on Friday morning and said he could return on Sunday against the Utah Jazz or on Tuesday against the Portland Trail Blazers.
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