Lakers Facing the Marcus Smart Reality They Should’ve Expected All Along

The Marcus Smart experience in Los Angeles has delivered everything the Lakers expected — intensity, leadership, elite defense — and everything they feared: injuries.

When Smart is on the floor, the transformation is undeniable. He brings toughness, structure, and the type of defensive identity the Lakers have lacked for years. But the key word is when. And that’s the exact lesson Los Angeles is relearning the hard way.

The 31-year-old veteran has missed the last six games due to a left lumbar muscle strain, another setback in a career increasingly defined by availability concerns rather than ability. Smart has suited up in 14 of 23 games so far — not catastrophic, but certainly concerning.

💥 A Familiar Story the Lakers Couldn’t Escape

Smart was supposed to be a high-reward signing after securing a buyout from the Wizards, and in many ways he has been. But the Lakers were always signing both the player and his medical history.

His last two seasons paint the picture clearly:

• 20 games played with Memphis in 2023–24
• 34 games between Memphis and Washington in 2024–25
• 54 total games across two full NBA seasons

The availability issues aren’t a surprise — they're the pattern.

🏀 Encouraging Return Signs, But the Long-Term Concern Remains

Smart is expected to return for the Lakers’ NBA Cup matchup against the San Antonio Spurs, offering short-term relief.

“Back’s feeling good… we did some tests, passed the tests. We’re going to give it a shot tomorrow,”

Smart told Dave McMenamin.

Good news for Wednesday.

Not necessarily good news for the season.

Smart's body has consistently dictated his timeline, and the Lakers are quickly learning that nothing has changed.

📊 He Impacts Winning — When He’s Available

Smart’s raw numbers:

• 9.3 points
• 2.3 rebounds
• 2.9 assists
• 1.8 steals

But where he truly shines is hidden in the margins.

Smart has become a plus/minus machine, taking over the role Dorian Finney-Smith once held. His +78 on-court differential is one of the strongest indicators of how drastically he elevates the Lakers’ lineups.

The team record backs it up:

• 11–3 with Smart
• 6–3 without him

He’s a game-changer.

He’s also unavailable too often to rely upon.

⚠️ The Harsh Reality

The Lakers didn’t miscalculate — they knowingly gambled on a player whose health has deteriorated over time, hoping the impact would outweigh the missed games.

And to be fair, the impact has been impressive.

But this is the Marcus Smart they were always going to get:

• Elite defense
• Leadership
• Winning plays
• Injuries that disrupt continuity

The Lakers just have to hope the cost doesn’t eventually outweigh the benefit.