Los Angeles Lakers guard Nick Smith Jr. (20) moves the ball against Phoenix Suns guard Koby Brea (14) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena.
Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Former Los Angeles Lakers guard Nick Smith Jr. is taking his talents overseas after agreeing to a one-year deal with European powerhouse Real Madrid.
According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Smith has agreed to the deal after hitting unrestricted free agency this offseason. His agents confirmed the agreement, with the 22-year-old expected to serve as Real Madrid’s lead point guard.
Smith spent the 2025-26 season with the Lakers after initially joining the team on a two-way deal in September 2025. The Lakers later converted the deal to a standard NBA contract, which made him eligible for the postseason.
In 30 games for the Lakers, Smith averaged 6.2 points and 1.0 assists while shooting 39.5% from three-point range. He also spent a lot of time with the South Bay Lakers, where he had a bigger offensive role, averaging 19.7 points, 5.0 assists, and 3.6 rebounds across 18 appearances.
Smith also showed flashes of his scoring ability whenever he got a chance for the Lakers. One of his best performances came against the Portland Trail Blazers in November, where he finished with 25 points and 6 assists in the Lakers’ win.
But the Lakers eventually decided to move on as they went in a different direction, reshaping the roster around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. They declined Nick Smith Jr.’s $2.5 million team option for the 2026-27 season, which allowed him to become an unrestricted free agent.
Rather than just continuing to fight for a small role in the NBA, Smith will now have a chance to take on a lot more responsibility with one of Europe’s biggest teams.
Smith entered the NBA with a lot of expectations after the Charlotte Hornets drafted him with the number 27 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Across three seasons with the Hornets and the Lakers, he averaged 7.6 points in 17.5 minutes per game.
His move to Real Madrid does not mean his NBA career is finished. Smith is just 22 years old, and a great season in the EuroLeague could get him another chance in the NBA.
Playing the lead guard role could also give Smith consistent minutes and more offensive responsibility that could have been nearly impossible to find in the NBA. Interestingly, Smith will now play for the same team where Doncic developed into one of basketball’s youngest stars before he came to the league in 2018.
For Smith, this move is a good chance rather than necessarily the end. It’s a new opportunity rather than an end to his NBA career.
After spending three seasons just fighting for minutes, he now has a chance to establish himself as a major contributor for one of Europe’s premier teams and rebuild his NBA value in the process.