Luka Doncic took center stage on Thursday, Mar. 19 when he became the first Los Angeles Lakers player to drop 60 points in a single game since Kobe Bryant in 2016. It was a sensational showing from a top-tier player who was already on pace to win the scoring title in 2025-26.
The quiet development coming out of Doncic's stellar showing, however, was Marcus Smart further solidifying his status as the Lakers' offensive X-Factor.
Smart, who was recruited by Doncic himself, has made a career out of thriving on the defensive end of the floor. He won the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year award, has earned All-Defense honors in three different seasons, and has excelled as a defensive pillar for the Lakers in 2025-26.
For as grand as his defensive reputation may be, Smart's offensive skill set has never been consistently praised or even regarded as a truly positive element of his game
On the surface, there hasn't been all that much reason to change the narrative during the 2025-26 season. He's shooting just 40.1 percent from the field and 33.8 percent from beyond the arc while averaging the fewest assists per game (2.8) of his 12-year NBA career.
Beneath the surface, however, is a player whose offensive talents have played a direct role in the Lakers' success during the 2025-26 campaign.
Lakers thrive when Marcus Smart scores with volume
Doncic's 60 points and LeBron James' triple-double were the driving force behind the Lakers' 134-126 win over the Miami Heat. Flying below the radar, however, was Smart, who tallied 13 points, four assists, two rebounds, and two steals in 28 minutes.
Smart's double-digit scoring game continued a compelling trend, as the Lakers improved to 19-7 when he tallies at least 10 points in 2025-26.
That's an exciting fact considering he's eclipsed that mark during five of his past nine appearances. Los Angeles has gone 5-0 during that time. That only scratches surface, however, of how significant his offensive contributions have been alongside the Lakers' three-headed monster of Doncic, James, and Austin Reaves.
In addition to being 19-7 when Smart scores at least 10 points, the Lakers improved to 20-4 when he tallies a minimum of four assists.
Lakers are 19-7 when Marcus Smart has 10+ points, 20-4 when he has 4+ assists
10 points and four assists may seem like low numbers, but the Lakers' top three players all have usage rates of 25.9 or higher. That makes complementary production from other perimeter players all the more important, as it can make it even more difficult for opposing defenses to hone in on the stars.
With Smart, the Lakers have a player who can not only help run the offense as a facilitator, but fearlessly shoot enough to break the double-digit mark.
Smart's inefficiency can make him a polarizing figure, but he's played winning basketball for the better part of his career with a simple philosophy: Go ahead, leave me open. Yes, he's inefficient, but his willingness to take shots while shooting not all that far beyond the reach of efficiency makes it so defenders must get a hand in his face.
As the Lakers look for ways to diversify the offensive attack come the postseason, Smart will undoubtedly be highlighted as a secret weapon who can swing momentum in their favor.