Marcus Smart is the latest notable addition the Los Angeles Lakers have made in free agency this summer in their quest to win an 18th NBA title. Smart brings with him a wealth of experience on the big stage, and he spoke about what Lakers fans should expect from him on the court this season.
“You can expect a lot of energy,” Smart said. “You can expect a lot of passion, and you can expect me to leave everything I have on the court for you guys.”
If there is one word that describes Smart, it’s hustle. He has given his all on the court throughout his career and has three NBA Hustle Awards to show for it. The 31-year-old is the only multi-time winner of the award in league history.
Smart is also a tenacious defender and won Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. The Lakers were in desperate need of good perimeter defenders, and the veteran guard will help address that issue, provided he stays healthy.
Smart averaged 9.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game for the Memphis Grizzlies and the Washington Wizards in 2024-25. Injuries limited him to just 34 games, and worryingly, that wasn’t just a one-off. He only played 20 games in 2023-24, and there is a real concern about whether he can stay healthy.
The Lakers only gave Smart a two-year, $11 million deal, so there isn’t a big risk involved here. They can get him off their books relatively easily if the injury bug doesn’t stay away. If it does stay away, though, then we’ll look at this as quite a bargain for the Lakers.
Smart is reportedly working hard on his body this offseason, and the Lakers reckon they’ll get a sleeker version of him next season. General manager Rob Pelinka also believes they have gotten a championship-level difference maker in the guard.
“Adding a player like Marcus Smart to our roster allows us to compete at the highest level. Marcus epitomizes what it means to prioritize winning above all else, whether that’s making huge plays on the defensive end or hitting critical shots in key moments of the most intense games.”
“He knows and understands playoff winning and will be a key leadership voice in our group. Surrounding our stars with two-way players like Marcus is critical to our overall vision of how we want to play and win next season.”
Having a great defender like Smart next to Luka Doncic in the backcourt is ideal. Doncic reportedly played a central role in convincing him to join the Lakers, and it will be interesting to see this duo in action on the court.
While Smart will get a terrific reception from Lakers fans, that won’t be the case when he returns to his old stomping grounds. He spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Boston Celtics and expects to get a lot of hate and boos when he goes back there. His arrival just adds a bit more spice to that Lakers-Celtics rivalry.
