Lakers’ New Addition Reveals Conversation With Luka: ‘That Meant a Lot’

Former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart was officially introduced as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, July 22.

Smart told reporters he chose the Lakers over other teams who seriously pursued him because of Luka Doncic and LeBron James. The former Boston Celtic confirmed the multiple reports that it was Doncic, who personally recruited him to join the Lakers.

“There’s a lot of reasons [why I chose the Lakers], but the main one is being able to play with Luka and LeBron, two of the best to do it in this game, two greats with greatest basketball IQs that l’ve ever seen in this era,” Smart told reporters at the Lakers practice facility. “And when you get a guy like Luka calling, referencing, checking on you, trying to see where you at to see if you want to come and join something special that he’s trying to cook up over here. And for him to say that he can really use my help, that meant a lot.”

Smart added that he did not have a personal relationship with Doncic before the calls the Lakers star made. But he said they definitely have a “mutual respect” for each other.

“Every after game, there’s always flowers,” Smart added, referencing showering praise to his old competitor-turned-teammate.

Marcus Smart Surprised by Luka’s Call

Smart recalled that he was working out when his agent, Jason Glushon, called to tell him that Doncic reached out.

“Yeah, whatever,” Smart said of his initial reaction.

Doncic reached out again, and that was when Smart realized that the interest was real. The rest is history.

“I played against Luka a lot,” Smart told reporters. “I’ve been on a lot of opposing ends of Luka magic. And to be able to come out and be on his side at this time, it means a lot.”

Concerns about his recent injury history, which only limited him to 54 games over the last two seasons, were washed away right away after his signing with the Lakers.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported that a “sleeker” Smart is reporting to the training camp in the fall. He looks fit during his introductory presser.

“I’m likewise told that Smart (like Dončić) has been working hard on his body this summer. Conditioning was an undeniable issue for Smart last season, but the Lakers were convinced during their pursuit that they will see a sleeker version of the 2021-22 DPOY,” Stein wrote on his Substack newsletter “The Stein Line” on July 20.

If healthy, Smart has a great chance to land on the Lakers’ starting unit to provide point-of-attack defense after they lost Dorian Finney-Smith in free agency. He could also be their Sixth Man.

From Hero to Heel in Boston

Getty Marcus Smart, formerly of the Boston Celtics watches his last shot of the game miss in front of former Los Angeles Lakers forward Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

Passionate Boston Celtics fan and The Ringer’s founder, Bill Simmons, lost it when he learned about the latest move of their bitter arch-rivals.

The signing of Smart, who started his career Celtics, was a tough pill to swallow for Simmons and the Boston fanbase.

“Ahhhhhhh I’ve gone blind! Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!,” Simmons posted on X, attached with the edited photo of Smart in a Lakers uniform.

Smart is the latest former prominent Celtics player who switched to the Lakers, joining Rajon Rondo, Rick Fox, Avery Bradley and Isaiah Thomas.