Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic made a surprising request during the 2025 offseason. With the Lakers' roster nearing completion, Doncic asked general manager Rob Pelinka to sign former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart despite the injury issues that had plagued him in consecutive seasons.
Not only has Doncic been vindicated for believing in Smart, but the Lakers have been handed a golden opportunity to begin building an elite defense with a veteran in a leadership role.
Smart, 31, has appeared in 51 of the Lakers' 61 games during the 2025-26 season. That nearly matches the number of games he played between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons combined, 54, which both highlights the reward of the gamble and the adversity Smart has been forced to overcome.