Marcus Smart Looked Like Himself Again: Gritty, Disruptive, and In Control
The Los Angeles Lakers couldn’t have asked for a better sign as they close out the preseason. After a scoreless and sluggish debut, Marcus Smart delivered a reminder of what made him one of the NBA’s toughest competitors.
Smart bounced back with 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting, four steals, three rebounds, and two assists in 23 minutes during Friday’s narrow 117-116 loss to the Sacramento Kings. It was a vintage performance for the 31-year-old guard, whose defensive energy and playmaking steadied a Lakers team still adjusting to life without LeBron James.
“I think overall, it was just good to have a Marcus Smart game,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said after the game. “He did some really good things, and that’s a positive sign for us going into the regular season. You can feel the comfort level, the rhythm, the confidence — all of that.
He didn’t touch the ball a lot against Phoenix, but he was shot-ready and aggressive off the dribble. He made a couple of really nice drives, and defensively, he was active, disruptive, and physical.”
From Rusty Start to Resurgence
Three nights earlier in Phoenix, Smart looked out of sync, going scoreless with only one assist in 20 minutes as the Suns outscored the Lakers by two when he was on the floor.
“That first game is always a little tough,” Smart said. “You’re just trying to get your feet under you, figure things out, and use that time to get used to playing with your teammates. Got that game out of the way, felt really good. Today I was a little bit more aggressive. Each day, I’m constantly ramping it up, and it’s here now — three days to go. I felt great out there, and we’re going to continue to get better.”
The improvement was evident. Smart’s signature hustle, timely steals, and leadership on both ends gave the Lakers’ bench a jolt and the team its first glimpse of the defensive identity Redick has been emphasizing since taking over as head coach.
Marcus Smart Rejuvenated in Los Angeles
Smart, who played just 54 games over the past two seasons due to injuries, was personally recruited by Luka Dončić in the offseason. Now healthy, the former Defensive Player of the Year says he’s eager to prove himself again on a championship-caliber team.
“Oh, mentally I’m ready,” Smart said. “The last two years were really tough for me. I just wanted to get back to a team and show what I can really do and what I can bring. To be able to come here to this historic franchise and do that, I’m very excited.”
“This is probably the best I’ve felt since I got here,” he added. “As I continue to get better and reach 100 percent, you’ll see more nights like tonight where I’m aggressive, moving well, and bringing energy on both ends of the floor. I’m close.”
Setting the Tone with Defense
While veteran guard Gabe Vincent earned the starting role for now, Smart said he’s focused on leading by example and helping set a defensive tone alongside Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt.
“Just follow my lead — that’s really it,” Smart said. “I’m going to try to set the tone each and every night. Me, Vando, and Gabe go out there and try to bring the tone every time. Once we get our chemistry and understand what each of us likes to do, I think you’ll see a lot more physicality from the whole team. You saw a glimpse of that tonight.”
Smart believes the trio’s versatility will anchor the Lakers defensively, especially while James recovers from a sciatic nerve issue expected to sideline him until mid-November.
“It’s our versatility,” Smart said. “We’re able to guard multiple positions, but having Vando on the court especially helps. When you get tired or a guy has a hot hand, we have the luxury to say, ‘Marcus, Vando, switch off.’ That’s a big key for us. And when you add Gabe in there, the three of us are definitely going to set the tone. That’s going to be huge for us.”
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