Lakers Get Marcus Smart, And His Intangibles, Back At Perfect Time

As Marcus Smart walked to the Lakers’ podium for his first postgame media availability following the Lakers’ 101-73 win over the Suns on Friday, he made a statement that carried more weight than just the four words that came out of his mouth.

“Feels like so long,” he said as he sat down before taking questions from reporters.

And it had been.

Not just because Smart had been sidelined for nine games due to a right ankle contusion before making his return to the court Friday night at Crypto.com Arena.

But because how much had changed for him and the Lakers over the previous three weeks. 

When Smart suffered the injury during the March 21 win over the Magic, the Lakers were putting the finishing touches on a season-best nine-game winning streak, their most consecutive wins in a season since 2019-20. 

Luka Doncic was in the midst of a stellar stretch that earned him Western Conference Player of the Month for March as part of a push for league MVP. The Lakers had won 12 of 13 games. They were coalescing in the ways they hoped they would throughout the season.

That wasn’t the team Smart returned to.

Not only did the Lakers lose their winning streak with a loss in Detroit on March 23 in Smart’s first missed game because of the ankle injury, but they lost their star guards in Doncic and Austin Reaves to regular- season-ending injuries. 

“It hurt us,” Smart said. “It hurt our morale. It took us a little time to get ourselves back together, but we trust in one another. We talked through it, this is new to us as well, and we’re trying to figure it out together. But we constantly are seeing that and doing what we’re supposed to do. 

“That means everybody has to step up their roles. Everybody has to step up their play. Myself included. I might be playing more on both ends of the floor, just being that initiator, getting us in offense, finding guys, and then [finding] the right spots for myself as well.”

It didn’t take Smart long to be in those right spots, reminding the Lakers of what they missed while he was sidelined.

And what they’ll need from him now that he’s back with the playoffs on the horizon.

After Smart missed a floater over 6-foot-11 Suns big man Oso Ighodaro late in the third quarter, Ryan Dunn grabbed the defensive rebound, but Smart and Maxi Kleber didn’t give up on the play.

Kleber dove on the floor with Dunn for the ball, which popped out of Dunn’s hands. 

Smart retrieved the ball midair and quickly passed it to Jarred Vanderbilt underneath the basket before falling over Dunn, assisting Vanderbilt on a dunk that put the Lakers up 75-58.

“He was awesome,” coach JJ Redick said of Smart. “And that play was just emblematic of our effort all game long.”

LeBron James said: “Just a winning player. He just makes winning plays. It’s just solidified with the play that he had out there with Maxi. That’s just what he does — just makes winning plays.”

Smart said it had been “stressful” trying to get his ankle to a place where he could return to the court. 

Especially when the Lakers dropped three consecutive games after the injuries to Doncic and Reaves, as part of a 5-4 stretch they had without Smart. 

“Seeing my guys out there and not being able out there to help, especially with things the way they are now, we’re down bodies, it’s been tough,” Smart added. “But everybody in the organization, players, coaches, just [gave] me full-time support. The training staff, we’ve been doing everything possible, day in and day out to try to expedite this [while] making sure we’re [not] sacrificing other things that can cause the ankle to flare up and we would be back at square one.”

Smart is expected to get more playing time in the regular-season finale against the Jazz on Sunday.

His impact will go beyond the stats in the box score.

It’ll be reflected in plays like he and Kleber made Friday.

And the leadership the Lakers need from him to navigate through the next week before the playoffs start without two of their best players.  

“We all know it’s gonna be a challenge for us,” Smart said. “But this is part of the game, right? We see this every year. The playoffs start, and it’s whoever can stay healthy. A little bit of luck comes into play, but it’s definitely gonna be a challenge. I’m excited about the challenge. I know it doesn’t seem like we are as a team, but we are. We’re gonna have our ups, we’re going to have our downs, but we’re in it together.”

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