Marcus Smart isn’t arriving in Los Angeles as the same player who won Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. Injuries have taken a toll, limiting him to just 54 games over the last two seasons.
But Lakers legend James Worthy believes Smart’s value isn’t only about what happens on the floor. Instead, he sees him as the kind of steadying presence who can shape a locker room, something the Lakers need as they enter a new era with Luka Doncic and a still-active LeBron James.
Speaking on ESPN LA, Worthy drew a direct comparison to the late 1990s Lakers when coach Phil Jackson brought in Ron Harper.
“I remember when Phil Jackson brought in Ron Harper here. You know, Ron could still play, but more importantly, he was really good in the locker room. You bring in Smart, who can still play defense, savvy.”
Harper was no longer the explosive scorer he once was in Chicago, but he provided a voice of experience and a sense of calm that helped balance out the egos of Shaquille O’Neal and a young Kobe Bryant.
That leadership quality has been missing in Los Angeles since Alex Caruso departed in 2021. While LeBron is still the undisputed voice of the locker room, Smart offers something different, a grind-it-out, defensive-first mindset that can resonate with younger players, while also setting the tone for effort and accountability.
Smart’s arrival wasn’t accidental either. According to reports, Luka Doncic specifically pushed for the Lakers to add him this summer. Doncic admired Smart’s toughness from years of facing him in Boston and felt his defensive intensity would balance the Lakers’ lineup.
For a franchise that has long been criticized for lacking grit when it matters most, Smart provides exactly that.
Of course, there are questions. At 31, with multiple nagging injuries behind him, can Smart still be the kind of disruptive defender who once swung playoff series for the Celtics? Worthy acknowledges that his best days might be behind him, but stresses that his voice and presence may be just as impactful as his defense.
The Harper comparison rings true here. Harper wasn’t stuffing stat sheets by the time he got to L.A., but he was orchestrating the triangle offense, keeping everyone steady, and showing young stars how to navigate the grind of a long season. The Lakers won two championships with him in that role.
Smart, in Worthy’s eyes, can play a similar part for a team trying to forge a new identity around Doncic while squeezing the last bit of greatness out of LeBron.
For Smart, the challenge is clear: stay healthy enough to contribute on the floor, but also embrace the role of a connector in a locker room with stars at different stages of their careers. Sometimes, that’s all a team needs to take the next step.
