The Los Angeles Lakers have seemingly learned from their mistakes during the 2024 NBA offseason. A year after failing to sign a single new player, Los Angeles has already brought in three new contributors on guaranteed deals: Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, and Marcus Smart.
Lakers franchise player Luka Doncic wasted no time in explaining the value that Smart will bring to the roster with comments that should have fans intrigued.
Smart, 31, has struggled to stay healthy over the past two seasons, appearing in just 54 games between 2023-24 and 2024-25. His influence in games is matched by what he provides in the locker room and on the practice court, however, and Doncic is already acknowledging said truth.
During a recent Lakers press conference, Doncic was asked if his improved fitness and conditioning will help him defensively. His response was enlightening:
"I think way better. Obviously, we've got Marcus [Smart], so he's going to teach me some things. But obviously that's going to help a lot."
It was a quick comment that could've easily been glossed over, but Doncic's praise of Smart as a defender is noteworthy.
Luka Doncic is ready to learn from Marcus Smart on defense
No hyperbole is necessary when stating that Smart is one of the best defenders of his generation. Selected at No. 6 overall in the 2014 NBA Draft, he's spent the past 11 seasons making his mark as a versatile and downright overwhelming defensive presence.
That's translated to Smart winning the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year award and securing three All-Defense selections—and a case can be made that he should have more on his résumé.
One of the primary reasons Smart has earned such a prolific reputation as a defender is his uncanny ability to guard up. Despite standing at 6'3.25" without shoes, he utilizes every ounce of his powerful 220-pound frame and every centimeter of his 6'9.25" wingspan to act as a disruptive force.
Alongside his unrivaled determination, Smart has an advanced understanding of positioning and footwork on defense, which has thus allowed him to spend time defending every position on the court.
It's fair to question if he can still perform at that level individually in 2025-26. He's missed 110 games over the past two seasons, due in no small part to the physically-demanding style of play that's contributed to his success over the years.
What Smart can provide the Lakers, whether healthy or otherwise, however, is perspective and intelligence—and Doncic appears ready to learn from him.
Few players know how to play the angles better than Smart, which will be an essential new skill for Doncic. The All-NBA mainstay admittedly averaged a career-best 1.8 steals per game in 2024-25, but he must still improve his discipline and efficacy as an on-ball and off-ball defender.
Thankfully, Doncic has already identified a teammate who can push him to improve, especially now that he's in the best shape of his career.