There were so many encouraging stories this offseason regarding the health of Marcus Smart. The Los Angeles Lakers held their breath, hoping they landed a game-changer, signing the veteran after his buyout from the Washington Wizards. They did, but that impact has come with the usual twist.
When Smart has suited up for the Lakers, the hustle, energy, and defensive presence brought by the former Defensive Player of the Year has shown up in a big way. The when is doing a lot of heavy-lifting in that statement.
Smart has missed the last six games for the Lakers. A recent injury report stated the Lakers guard is dealing with a left lumbar muscle strain that is keeping him out of the lineup.
Smart has played 14 out of a possible 23 games for the Lakers this season. That ratio could certainly look a lot worse for Los Angeles. Even so, it is quickly becoming apparent that his impact will only be received by the team on his own schedule moving forward.
Marcus Smart's injury issues are par for the course in Los Angeles
Smart should return for the Lakers' NBA Cup clash against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. There was optimism in the air about his availability.
"Back's feeling good," Smart told Dave McMenamin. "Felt good in practice today. So we did some tests, passed the tests. We're going to give it a shot tomorrow. See how it feels."
The temporary relief only masks the long-term concern. Being a question mark due to injuries is a reality that would be on brand with who the 31-year-old has been over the past few seasons.
Smart only played 20 games for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2023-24. During the 2024-25 season, the tenacious guard amassed 34 games between the Grizzlies and the Washington Wizards. That is a total of 54 games played overall in the last two NBA campaigns.
The Lakers knew the risks. In all fairness, what they have gotten has been nowhere near the worst-case scenario either. There should be a healthy expectation that Smart will return from his current ailment in the foreseeable future.
The real shame here is how good the results have been when the former top-10 pick has played.
Smart's counting stats do not do it justice. His averages of 9.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.8 steals per game do look solid. However, the main appeal can be found in Smart taking Dorian Finney-Smith's spot as a plus/minus monster, posting +78 on the court with the Lakers.
Los Angeles is 11-3 this season with him in the lineup. They are 6-3 without him. Unfortunately for the Lakers, injuries have become a very real part of the overall Marcus Smart experience.