Knowing your role is a massively important skill in the NBA, and Marcus Smart has excelled in that area for his whole career. That's why, after the Lakers beat the Timberwolves on Friday, and [Smart said that](https://x.com/mcten/status/1982192594051305674), "Stats aren't going to do me any justice," he was spot on. In that game, Smart posted 3 points, 1 assist, and 2 steals... and was a big part of the Lakers' success.
That's always been Smart's MO, and Lakers fans are learning that firsthand in the early portion of this season. Sometimes Smart's tenacious playstyle backfires and can be a tad frustrating. But at the end of the day, he cares more about winning than anything else, and that's an invaluable trait.
Stats don't do him justice — but Smart is a winning presence nearly every night. On Sunday night, Smart showed another important element of his game: Toughness. Smart left the game with a leg injury in the second half, but returned in the fourth quarter (clearly still in pain) to help the Lakers close out the Kings.
Smart's tenacious tendencies can wear on his body (he's been beat up the past few years, and it's not hard to see why). Smart probably didn't _need_ to return to the court with Austin Reaves handling all the scoring by himself — but he did! He wanted to. And _want_ is a perfect descriptor for Smart, who finished the game with 11 points and 5 assists. But again... Stats are basically irrelevant for Smart, who makes his mark in so many different ways.
Marcus Smart has always excelled at the little things
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In Boston, Smart was a near-lock to average about 12 points and 5 assists per game each season; compared to other NBA players who posted similar statlines, Smart was monumentally more impactful than any of them because he loves doing the dirty work; organizing the defense, diving on the floor, deflecting balls, making the extra effort.
That will be the case for Smart on the Lakers, too; if you just watch box scores, you're likely to miss so much of what makes Marcus Smart great. If you watch the games, though, you'll quickly see why he's been so successful in this league.
_"i just try to go out there and... Do what I'm supposed to do... Help my teammates out the best way I can. Being a plus-24 is great and everything, and definitely shows an impact that can be made without touching the ball, shooting the ball, scoring the ball..."_
A player who is happy with a great plus-minus and doesn't care about scoring the ball? That's what has made Marcus Smart a fan favorite in previous stops, and why Lakers fans are already warming up to him in the Purple and Yellow.
With Luka and LeBron both sidelined, Smart's role becomes even more significant in the coming weeks. But even if the stats don't tick up in that time, watching the games will be key to understanding just how much Smart imapcts this team.