It is predicted by plenty of people that Marcus Smart will have a significant impact on the Los Angeles Lakers this coming season. Smart has long been one of the NBA’s best and peskiest perimeter defenders, as he was named to the All-Defensive first team three times and won the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year award, and perimeter defense happens to be something the Lakers have been lacking.
At age 31, Smart may not be the same player he was three years ago, and he has had trouble staying healthy over the last couple of years. But he said he is highly motivated going into the 2025-26 season, and he relayed that Lakers coach JJ Redick wants him to get back to the player he was with the Boston Celtics before they traded him in 2023.
“JJ just wants me to be me. The person that I was in Boston, the person that he played against and had me chasing around when he was on the court playing. So that’s all he asked me and I think I could do that to the best of my ability with the best of them because like I said I have a chip on my shoulder and I’m ready to go.”
In his first nine seasons, all of which came with the Celtics, Smart was a big glue guy, as he not only was a defensive menace but was also a terrific secondary facilitator and ball handler, as well as someone who was very resourceful.
He can effectively guard at least three positions on the court, and his experience in appearing in the Eastern Conference finals five times and the NBA Finals once will help a Lakers team that has had trouble becoming an elite team again.
Smart has career averages of 10.6 points, 4.6 assists and 1.6 steals a game. He isn’t a reliable 3-point shooter, but after signing a two-year, $10.5 million contract with L.A., he should provide the squad with good, if not great, value.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Marcus Smart on what JJ Redick told him upon signing with Lakers
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
