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LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 9, 2026: Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) gets congrats from Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart (36) after scoring against the Milwaukee Bucks at Crypto.com Arena on January 9, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
guard Veteran guard Marcus Smart claimed that he is the Los Angeles Lakers locker room leader and holds the most control over the energy. Smart took part in an interview in an interrogation room that featured him being forced to answer tough questions. The most interesting question featured Smart having to answer who controls the energy in the Lakers’ locker room most this season.
Smart provided the following insight when naming himself above LeBron James and Luka Doncic:
“Definitely me. LeBron and Luka don’t really talk as much, they be locked in. Deandre Ayton’s my guy, he’s kind of all over the place, so I regulate that and make sure everyone else is good. But yeah, it’s definitely me.”
Most fans would expect James or Doncic to hold this label due to their role on the team. LeBron has been viewed as a basketball genius for over two decades and led three different NBA franchises to NBA Championships.
Doncic is the best player on the team and arguably the best all-around offensive player in the NBA today. Many teams will see their best player instantly becoming the leader since his performance on the court sets the standard for everyone else on the team. However, Smart claimed he is the one doing the most leading.
Why Marcus Smart Believes He’s The Leader
To his credit, Smart fully explained his rationale and didn’t say he was the best player on the team. Leadership often does see the longest-tenured players getting more of a voice in the locker room. Smart has been in the league for 12 seasons and had many deep playoffs runs with the Boston Celtics.
The logic from Smart cites that James and Doncic have too many responsibilities to control the energy and check in with other players. Smart named starting center DeAndre Ayton as one of the younger players he must regulate and keep an eye on.
Lakers management added Smart partially due to his longevity in the league and leadership qualities. Head coach JJ Redick trusting Smart to start and close many games shows his presence is appreciated. The veteran point guard didn’t say anything out of line and fully backed up his claims about controlling the energy of the team.
Smart Referenced The DeAndre Ayton Problem
Smart mentioning Ayton by name as the player he has to keep in check shines a light on an issue Lakers fans have had all season. Ayton joined the Lakers in free agency with the hopes of becoming the starting center of the future.
Inconsistent results so far see Ayton sharing center duties with Jaxson Hayes and often benched again smaller teams down the stretch. Focus issues have annoyed Lakers fans since Ayton’s talent should make him an easier transition to a team with multiple facilitators.
Smart talking about Ayton needing a veteran to stay on him will provide less faith in him as the team’s top center moving forward. Don’t be surprised if Ayton is gone this offseason and the Lakers choose to take a chance on another center via trade or free agency