Smart joins the Lakers: Purple and Gold Legion adds sharp blades, aims at the championship and sets off again

On July 23, the Los Angeles Lakers ushered in a major signing, officially announced the signing of Marcus Smart, and posted a poster to warmly welcome the new member to join. In the new season, Smart will wear the No. 36 jersey for the Lakers, becoming the first player in the history of the Lakers to wear this number. According to previous reports, he signed a two-year, $11 million contract with the Lakers.

Lakers' basketball operations president and general manager Pelinka praised the signing: "Signing players like Marcus Smart gives us the confidence to gain a foothold in the highest level of competition. He perfectly interprets the concept of 'victory first'. Whether it is contributing key performances on the defensive end or hitting important shots in a stalemate moment, it is a model." Pelinka further emphasized that Smart's rich playoff experience and championship experience have made him an indispensable voice for the team. "Equipping core stars with all-around players like Marcus is crucial to our game style and vision for next season. It is undoubtedly an exciting signing."

Smart, a 31-year-old player with a height of 1.91 meters and weighing about 100 kg, has been involved in many teams in his career and has accumulated rich experience. In the 2024-25 season, he played for the Washington Wizards and the Memphis Grizzlies, playing in 34 games (7 starts), averaging 9.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 20.0 minutes. During his 11-year career, he played for the Washington Wizards, the Memphis Grizzlies and the Boston Celtics, playing in 635 games (387 starts), averaging 10.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.6 steals in 29.5 minutes. It is worth mentioning that in his nine playoff journeys (2014-23 seasons), he played in 108 games (73 starts), of which he entered the NBA Finals with the Celtics in 2022, averaging 12.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.3 steals in 33.1 minutes per game in the playoffs.

Smart's basketball career started quite a bit, and he was selected by the Celtics with the 6th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. In his rookie season, he was selected as the NBA's Rookie No. 2 team for his outstanding performance, and was awarded the best defensive player of the year in 2022, showing strong personal strength. During his college years, he spent two brilliant seasons at Oklahoma State (2012-14), twice selected for the Big 12 All-First Team, and was elected the Big 12 Player of the Year in 2013.

Joining the Lakers this time, Smart will undoubtedly inject new vitality into the team. His tough defensive style is expected to improve the Lakers' overall defensive strength and build a solid defense line for the team; offensive performance at critical moments can also give the team stable scoring support when the game is in a stalemate. As an experienced veteran, his leadership and field wisdom will help young players grow rapidly and enhance the team's cohesion. The Lakers are targeting the championship in the new season. Smart's arrival undoubtedly makes the Purple and Gold Army's championship puzzle more complete. Let's wait and see what kind of sparks will Smart and the Lakers create in the new season.