Marcus Smart is ready for a new chapter in Los Angeles, and he says the opportunity to play alongside Luka Dončić made the decision even easier.
The veteran guard signed a two-year, $11 million deal with the Lakers on July 22, giving the franchise another proven defender and vocal leader.
Speaking with ESPN LA, Smart described his reaction when his agent first told him about Doncic’s push to bring him in. “I’m ecstatic, man. I’m excited,” he said, via Silver Screen and Roll. “When my agent told me Luka called him and was very interested, I didn’t believe him at first. I’m not gonna lie. I’m like, ‘You’re joking. I’m a jokester, so you probably get me back for something.’ And he’s like, ‘No, I’m serious. We really need to sit down and we need to talk. This is going to happen. This is real.’”
Smart added that the chance to finally play next to Doncic after years of competition sealed it for him. “But having Luka have that ability to say ‘I want this guy here,’ being able to play against him for as long as I did, I’m finally glad to be on his side.”
The 31-year-old guard split last season between the Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards, averaging 9.0 points, 3.1 assists, and 1.2 steals in 34 combined games. Known for his intensity and perimeter defense, Smart was the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year while with the Boston Celtics.
For the Lakers, Smart joins a roster headlined by Doncic, LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Anthony Davis’s replacement in the frontcourt, Deandre Ayton.
Smart’s arrival strengthens a backcourt that lacked defensive consistency last season. His ability to guard multiple positions and organize the defense is expected to complement Doncic’s playmaking on the other end.
